Are you ready for the best piece of advice we have for your upcoming family photo session!? Show up expecting that not everyone will be smiling at the same time in the same picture. For that matter, expect that not everyone will even be looking at the camera at the same time! Say Whaaaaat!?
I think it is safe to say that family pictures are something that everyone loves to have, but also something that some families dread – especially the ones with little ones! So we wanted to put together a few pointers for stressing moms and dads to help prepare for family pictures. There are obvious things that most families do to prepare like pack snacks, water, and maybe even some toys to keep little ones happy, or making sure their bellies are full and they are well rested. But we wanted to share some other fun advice for all of our awesome families.
As photographers it is our job to capture the moments for you. Our favorite moments are the candid laughs as families tell inside jokes or blush when funny memories are talked about during the session. It’s natural to worry about outfits staying in place and whether or not everyone’s eyes are opened, but leave that part of it to us! We understand that people tend to freeze in front of the camera but instead, we want your family to relax and enjoy themselves just like you would on a weeknight on the couch in the living room. We will catch the genuine smiles and natural laughter while you are doing what you do best – being yourselves! Or as the cool kids say ‘Just do you, Boo’! It’s like having your own hidden paparazzi who interjects at times with directions or to fix fly-aways and accidental popped collars!
Music!! Think of a song right now that makes you smile and feel good or even one that deep down inside makes you want to bust a move and start dancing! Most of us parents know what those songs are for our kids too. Don’t be afraid to tell us what that song is – even if it means confessing that you are still jamming to the Backstreet Boys! We have served as DJ’s playing songs on repeat to keep kids attention and keep them moving and engaged with the session. It helps them to relax and gives them the freedom to move and have fun which is exactly what we want them to do. We did this ourselves as a family when we had our photos taken recently. ‘Whip and Nae Nae’ anyone?? That songs gets our family smiling and dancing whether we know how to or not!
Last but not least, when all else fails resort to the most obvious form of picture success – bribery. Haha! If any of you just judged us, that’s totally ok and we forgive you. 😉 But with two kids of our own, we understand and have been there many times. We have bought new lego sets, handed out multiple snacks through the course of a shoot, and made dinner trips to “Chick-a-lay” for our kids being good sports during pictures. It never hurts to have something planned in advance as a reward for good behavior and if you promise your kids some ice cream afterwards, then it’s a win for you too!
So show up, relax, have fun, and leave the rest to us!
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