How to Prepare For Your Family Photo Session
I've seen it happen time and time again - the nervous look in a mother's eyes as her family photo session begins to go wrong.
Usually, it's a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. You have invested a lot in this experience. You carefully planned your family's outfits (tips on that here), convinced your camera-shy spouse to take part, researched location options, and may have bribed your kids. Consequently, when they start acting up - you might be the one ready to cry! It doesn't have to be this way. I'm here for you during the entire process: 4 pointers you can keep in mind as a preparation tool ahead of time
1. Kids Will be Kids –It’s okay, let Them!
Trust me when I say that I have had experience with all sorts of kids--shy ones, wild ones, and hyperactive ones. Guess what? No matter how much they may squirm or scream, I can get a great photo no matter what they do. And while their antics might make you feel embarrassed at first, don't let them hold you back from having the best family photos ever! This is my job and this is something that I love to do--and there are ways around any problem.
As you prepare for family photos, remember that your little ones have minds of their own. Sometimes we'll try something and find out it isn't working; that's okay! You're there to be flexible and allow us to move on if something else is working better. It's normal for toddlers or young children to act goofy or shy - it just means they are growing and developing in their own way.
Keep the session as low-stress as possible in order to keep your child's attention. Make sure it is a fun experience and use positive reinforcement, or else harsh words or threats of discipline may send them into a tailspin. Your child's behavior might be frustrating at times, but this is one time you need to ignore it.
Frame your session in a lighthearted way to set yourself up for success. Say something like, "We're going to the park today with Miguel. He loves playing games and making goofy faces and noises. He'll be taking our picture and it will be so much fun! On the flip side, comments that amp up the pressure (e.g., 'This is a really important day for our family; mommy needs you to cooperate) are detrimental." Let go of any stress or tension before beginning a session, and have fun while cozying with your kids.
2. Keep It Light
Many parents think that they need to bribe their children in order to have good family photos. However, this couldn't be further from the truth! In fact, bribing your small children before your session might actually be the opposite of what you want. By doing this, you're telling them that the photo session will likely be painful and they won't like it. This sends a message that you don’t appreciate them or care about their well-being which can negatively affect how comfortable they feel during the shoot.
Children under the age of five do not understand delayed gratification. Promises of a "future" reward don't resonate with them, as it's hard for them to comprehend that things in the future will exist. However, they are plenty capable of getting on board with family photos sans reward - after all, it's just playtime, and who needs rewards for having fun? Sometimes a little motivation at the session can help though- so bring along some fruit snacks or their favorite candy for instant reward and gratification. Suckers containing chocolate or messy treats are best left at home so as not to spoil everyone’s outfits and have fun!
You can still go out for ice cream afterward as a fun reward to cap off your family photo session, but don't overdo it - it's only a treat meant to close out an enjoyable evening.
3. Just Say ‘NO’ to Bribes
I understand that you know your child better than anyone else. You can often tell what makes them happy and content, which is why it can be tempting to take control during photo sessions at home. However, professional photographers are trained to capture natural expressions and moments without any directives from the parents. It might be helpful to say things like “smile” or “look towards the camera” when taking pictures at home, but this isn't always necessary when working with a family photographer.
I work to get genuine emotions and real smiles from my clients. I don't want to make their children smile - I want them unable not to grin. If you start forcing a reaction, take a breath, step back, and enjoy the moment; parents rarely have this opportunity just relax and gaze at their amazing little ones. This is that moment. So savor it!
Sometimes it can be helpful to show them a picture of me in advance when we are talking about the upcoming session. Go to my “About” page so they know I am someone they can trust and that my Instagram feed won't be strange. This will make them feel more comfortable with our meeting.