11 family photographer secrets to family photos you actually love!
There’s always a sense of excitement when you’ve set a date with a photographer for your family photos. You’re about to capture magical memories that you’ll look back on for years to come … or so you hope.
So how do you make sure this year’s family photo session is going to produce magical images that you look back on fondly in 20, 30, or even 50 years?
Booking a family session with a photographer whose style fits your aesthetic and whose personality seems like a great fit is important, of course. Naturally it also helps to pick the right outfits to maximize both comfort and nail the look you’re going for (Don’t worry. Every client gets my wardrobe guide!).
But in the past few decades, I’ve found that the advice people value most has nothing to do with their outfits and everything to do with making the experience fun and comfortable. After all, the more fun you’re having, the more it will show when you get your gallery.
Between raising my own daughter and capturing photos of countless families over the years, I’ve learned there are some simple things that make a real difference between family photos you want to remember forever and family photos from a session where parents felt frazzled and kids were anything but happy. From what to bring and what to do before I arrive, here are my best tips for getting photos you’ll treasure forever.
How to get family photos you really love
1. Prep everyone ahead of time
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived at a family session and watched one person’s face fall the second they realize what’s happening. Plenty of people just don’t love having their photo taken, and when that’s your partner or your teenager or your dad, surprising them can feel like the only way to get them in front of the camera.
Please don’t do this! A little warning goes a long way. Talk to everyone ahead of time, be honest about what the session involves, and (this part matters) ask what would make it more comfortable for them. Sometimes the fix is as small as letting someone keep their hands in their pockets or stand toward the back.
It’s also why my questionnaire asks about things like health, mobility, or sensory needs well before we pick a date. If Grandpa can’t manage the long walk to that pretty spot by the creek, or one of your kids gets overwhelmed in a crowd, I would so much rather know going in. It means I can choose a location and shape our time around what your family actually needs, instead of everyone just gritting their teeth and pushing through.
I swear by a more documentary approach to photography not just because the results look more authentic and emotional but because 9 times out of 10, people are more comfortable acting naturally than they are being forced to stand still in a perfect pose, staring at the camera!
2. Don’t practice smiling before the photo session
I know I just said to prep everyone ahead of time, and I stand by that advice. But you don’t want to over-prepare the kids.
It may seem like a good idea to practice smiling with kids before your session, but this can lead to stiff, unnatural expressions. Over-practicing can make kids feel pressured, and they may end up looking rehearsed rather than enjoying the session.
So skip the smile practice, and simply let your kids know you’ll be taking family photos and that you want them to just be themselves.
3. Wait to get everyone dressed
Planning to have children in the family photos? Depending on their age, this tip can save you a whole lot of stress.
If we are taking photos at your house, you have the advantage of being able to dress the kids right before we start. If you’ve chosen to book one of my mini sessions or we your session will be at an alternate location, you may have a bit of a ride to get there.
I highly recommend you save yourself the stress of having to clean up a sippy cup spill on the way over by packing a bag with the kids’ outfits and doing a quick change in the car right before we get started.
4. Bring extra clothes (And not just for the kids!)
This may feel obvious to folks with young children, but I’m not just talking to the parents of small kids with this one.
It’s handy for adults to have an extra outfit on hand too.
There’s nothing worse than getting covered in coffee when you stop short on the drive to your photo session because you had to avoid a deer. Packing an extra outfit, or even just a change of shirt, is an easy fix.
5. Don’t try to make kids look at the camera
I know people mean well when they do this, so if you’re thinking “oops … guilty,” don’t sweat it. Been there. Done that. I appreciated the effort!
But you don’t have to point at the camera to encourage your kids to look at me!
Without fail, the batch of photos that I end up having to trash from every session involving kids is a series of images of adults with their hands pointed my way. Nine times out of 10, those hands are actually blocking the faces of their little ones, and it ends up taking me twice as long to capture photos of the child (as the kiddo gets antsier and antsier …).
Ten times out of 10? The photo of a child looking at a family member or snuggling with a parent or grandparent ends up being much, much cuter anyway!
but this angle allowed me to capture his little hand tightly clasping Mom’s hand for a walk.
6. Pack a bag
This is another piece of advice I offer to more than just the parents out there. While folks with younger children are often accustomed to grabbing a bag and filling it with snacks, toys and more, it’s helpful for every client (even if you’ve got older kids or no kids at all) to load up a bag with a quick change of shoes, bug spray and other items. This prevents you from having to run back to the car because you forgot something.
It’s also the perfect place to stow the cellphone that would look bulky and strange in your pocket or that extra hair tie you really don’t want to leave on your wrist.
Bonus: If you’re a glasses wearer who plans to remove your glasses for the photos, don’t forget to throw a case for your glasses into the bag to keep them safe!
7. Bring a blanket
If we’re taking photos outside, it’s almost guaranteed that you’re going to end up sitting on the ground at some point. A blanket provides a barrier to keep any clothes from getting covered in dirt if you end up sitting down, not to mention keeping your rear end warm on a cold day.
While I often bring my own blanket for clients to use just in case, I suggest bringing your own. Among the advantages?
- A blanket from your own home ends up looking more natural in photos because it fits your chosen aesthetic. After all, you bought it!
- If the weather turns chilly, you can pop it on yourself or a family member to warm up, then wear it back to the car so everyone stays comfy and cozy.
8. Eat before you get your family photos taken
Do you ever get hangry? Me too!
The worst mistake many folks make is planning to eat right after their family photo session. I get it. You don’t want to get messy before you sit down for family photos.
Here’s the problem: When you plan to head off to dinner after your family portrait session, it almost means that everyone shows up with rumbling tummies. All that rumbling in your belly often turns into grumbling out loud from people of all ages, and that happy family photo you dreamed of turns quickly goes south.
I recommend everyone eats something, even if it’s a small snack to tide you over until dinner, so the whole family is feeling comfortable and ready to have some fun in front of the camera.
Needless to say, it’s best to do this before folks get dressed up in their photo session outfits!
9. Pack photo-safe snacks
It’s not always feasible for everyone to eat a full meal before the family photo session. That’s where safe snacks come into play. These are great for filling the gap before mealtime (and quelling those hangry feelings).
So what do I mean by “safe” snacks? Specifically, I mean avoiding the more common messy snacks like chocolate (which melts in kids hands) or juice (which easily spills and can stain a child’s cheeks). Even some fruits can end up leaving behind residue on skin and clothing both.
Instead, I recommend any of the following (of course you know your family’s allergy situation best, so please adjust accordingly):
- Pretzels
- Cheerios or similar plain cereals that won’t make hands sticky
- Raw veggies like carrot sticks or cauliflower
- Snack bars or protein bars that won’t make a mess
If you would prefer to go the candy route, I’ve found that jelly beans tend to be a fairly safe bet as the harder candy coating limits the sticky factor. Jelly beans also help you avoid that melted chocolate mess that comes with a Hershey’s bar or even M&Ms.
10. Let kids be little
As a mom, I will be the first to tell you that parenthood is simultaneously the most wonderful job in the world and the toughest. We put incredible amounts of pressure on ourselves to get everything “right,” and that often extends to family photo sessions.
I can’t take all the weight of the world off your shoulders (although I wish I could), but I can offer you a chance to set it down when you arrive at our session.
It’s OK to just let your kids “be” during our time together.
You don’t have to get them to behave perfectly.
You don’t have to make them smile or stand up straight. You don’t even have to make them put that tongue back in their mouths!
Not only am I not judging your parenting, but I am celebrating all the special bits that make up your family’s interactions and your kids’ oh so personal traits and quirks.
It’s part of why I lean into a more documentary approach to photography. Forcing a wiggly kid to stand still and stare down the lens almost never works, and 9 times out of 10 the shot of them mid giggle, or burrowed into your shoulder, is the one you’ll want on the wall anyway.
So let them be little. I’ll handle the chasing.
11. Bring wet wipes
Whether it’s a sticky face from a snack your kiddo somehow discovered in the backseat of the car on the drive over or a runny nose (there’s always something going around!), having wipes on hand makes it easy to give their faces a quick once over.
And let’s be real … sometimes they’re a must for adults too!
