Tips for a Successful Family Photo Session (even if your kids are not that into it) | Studio Eleven Eleven

It can be tough to get your family together for a photo session. Especially if your children are anything like mine and would rather do just about anything else than have their picture taken. Here is my secret to a successful family photo session, even if your kids are less than excited about it. Here are some tips to help you prep for the family photo session that dreams are made of.

Talk about it.

Talk to your children about the importance of getting family photos. Let them know why you want pictures of everyone together and how it feels to look back at them. Children understand best by doing so set some time aside to flip through some family albums together – point out relatives and relate the stories behind the images. If you don’t have printed photos, scroll through the photo gallery on your phone. The important thing here is to recall the memories associated with the images and open up the conversation so that everyone, including the kiddos, can chime in with an anecdote or a chuckle. For example, a photo from your last family vacation can stir up a lot of memories. Make it fun and get a few laughs in there. You will see that “a picture is truly worth a thousand words”

Make it a game.

Turn the photo session into a game that your children can play along with. For example, you can make a contest out of who can smile the widest or who can strike the most creative pose. This will not only help to get everyone’s attention and add some fun and laughter to the mix.

Choose a location that your children will feel comfortable in.

When choosing a location for your family photo session, it’s important to consider what will make your children feel most comfortable. If possible, try to find a location that they are familiar with or that has some special meaning to them. This will help them feel more relaxed which will translate to the photos we create together. Be sure to let your children know in advance where the photo session will be taking place. This way, they can start to get excited about it and have something to look forward to.

I work closely with my clients to choose the perfect location based on your desired look, as well as the ages and interests of your kiddos. I’m always happy to shoot in your home or any other space or place that your family loves.

Plan ahead.

This is key for a successful family photo session, especially if you have young children. I recommend starting to plan a few weeks in advance. This will give you time to coordinate and gather your outfits and try them on – don’t wait until the morning of your session to do this! An ill-fitting outfit can make an otherwise amazing photo look funky. I like to take the stress out of this part for my clients by offering a client wardrobe for Mamas and kiddos up to age 8. I work closely with my Mamas to make sure everyone is on the same page and excited for photo day.

Consider getting your hair and makeup done by a Professional.

Photo makeup is different from everyday makeup. If you’re looking to take your family photos to the next level, consider getting your hair and makeup done by a professional. This will take the stress out of getting ready and add an extra level of polish and to your images. It can be a fun and pampering experience that is definitely worth the investment.

I work with a talented team of professional hair and makeup artists that come right to your home. This is a great option if you have young children as it eliminates the need to find childcare and travel to and from a Salon the day of your session. Just sit back, relax and let the celebrity treatment begin.

Choose the right photographer for your family.

When it comes to choosing the right photographer for your family, it’s important to consider your personal style and what you’re looking for in the final images. You should also take into account the photographer’s experience with photographing families, as well as their ability to work well with children.

I have years of experience photographing families of all shapes and sizes, as well as working with children of all ages. I’m patient, kind and have a lot of experience handling even the most challenging situations that can come up during a photo session. I encourage my clients to leave ALL THE guiding and posing of kiddos to me so that they can focus on making memories with their little Loves.

If you’re looking for someone who will take the time to get to know your family, capture genuine connection and create images that you will cherish for a lifetime, I would love to chat.

Embrace the chaos.

My final note to parents is to embrace the chaos. Kids are wonderfully unpredictable and believe it or not, that can be a good thing. I encourage my clients to embrace the chaos because that’s the reality of life with Littles – expecting a photo session to be different is a lot of pressure for kiddos and parents. Besides, It’s often the unexpected in between moments that turn out to be our favorites.

If things do happen to get a little crazy, don’t worry! I’m here to capture it all and I have my tricks and games for reining in the chaos when we get a little too crazy. Which brings me to my next point – photo sessions should be fun for everyone involved. I hope that these tips help ensure that your next photo session is relaxed and enjoyable for everyone – even the littlest members of your family.

I hope these tips help set you up for the family photo session that mama dreams are made of. If you want a fun and memorable photo experience for your family that results in beautiful, light-filled, magazine quality images contact me! I’d love to chat.