Continuing with our "tips" series; today we have 5 tips for your family portrait session! I often hear from people things like "we need family pictures; we haven't had them done since the kids were little!" Kids change so fast; you should try to update your family portraits every 2-3 years (bonus tip)! Now for the tips:
1. Location, location, location! Studio or outdoors, the setting is up to you! If you have a spot in mind that’s fine; otherwise we are happy to make suggestions. Think about what suits your family and their style.
2. What should you wear? Some families choose to match (for example, everyone in white shirts and jeans as seen above) while others prefer a coordinated but non-matching look (below). The important thing is to look like you all belong together and aren’t just a bunch of strangers that spontaneously took a picture together. :) Solid colors are always good. On the beach there is a lot of latitude with color choices but for a shoot in a park steer away from white and very light colors.
3. Don't forget the furry members of your family! Incorporating pets into a family session is always a great idea, especially outdoors! Be sure to check that pets are allowed at the location you're planning to do your portraits at.
4. Consider time of day. The "golden hour" just after sunrise and just before sunset is considered the ideal time for outdoor sessions but if your family members are not early birds, or if you've got a little one that has a firm early bedtime consider a studio session, or a different time of year when the sun rises later and sets earlier. Consider the location too; you will often lose daylight sooner in a park with lots of trees than at the beach.
5. Finally, relax! Family portraits shouldn't be stressful. If the kids are less than cooperative or it's way windier than you thought it would be just roll with it! A good photographer will work with the circumstances on any given day. And most photographers have a re-shoot policy if everything really does just fall apart the day of your shoot.
Now schedule those family portraits!