Family Portrait Session - What to expect / FAQs
A family portrait session is a wonderful way to document special moments between you and your loved ones.
Here are some tips and tricks I've found to be super helpful in preparing for your session so it can be as fun, stress free and enjoyable as possible.
What to expect
Family portrait sessions take place in my purpose built studio located to the side of my home at Larkfield, The Parks, Minehead, TA24 8BT. There is limited parking available on the drive or plenty of parking on the road just outside. Look for two grey gates as you head up through The Parks - my house is approximately 150m up on the left hand side (directly opposite Maitland Walker Solicitors). You are welcome to park on the drive by buzzing the gates and I will let you in.
Family portrait sessions last up to an hour, which gives us plenty of time to capture images of you all and your desired family groupings. My sessions will never feel rushed, and if we need to take a break, we will! I can quickly see when little ones get tired, and from experience we usually have around a 20-30 minute window before this happens. I therefore aim to get the most important poses first and finish with some fun candid shots towards the end. Studio portrait sessions are very much focused on posed portraits as opposed to candid shots simply due to the size of the studio (candids are more suited to an outdoor session).
What should we wear to our family portrait session?
What you wear to your session can have a big impact on the overall aesthetic and feel to your photos so it's really worth thinking about and having your outfits ready beforehand. I understand it can be difficult to get everyone to coordinate colours, however I've put together a few tips below to help ensure you have a cohesive look.
- First and foremost, wear what you are comfortable in and what makes you feel good. You need to like how you look in your pictures as you’ll be keeping them forever! You also want your clothes to reflect your own personality and style.
- You do not have to match! The days of wearing matching denim jeans and white shirts are long gone, unless of course that’s the look you’re going for! However do think about wearing similar colour tones i.e. pastels or neutrals. A mixture of textures and colours that go together rather than match make for great photos. Cottons, denim, textures knits all work too. Try and avoid pinstripes and logos as these can be distracting.
- Try and avoid neon colours or just one person in a very bright colour - I love neon colours but they can cause colour casts on the skin which which make skin tones appear off!
When do we see the photographs from our family portrait session?
Around one to two weeks after your session, I will email you a link to your private personal online viewing gallery where you will be able to log in and view your images. These images will form part of a proofing gallery and will only contain a light edit. Once I know which package you have selected, I will then edit these images and deliver your final digital images which you can then download along with a print release form.
How much will I spend on my family portrait session?
Once you have your proofing gallery, you will be able to choose your included product of 8×6 art-mounted print. You are then welcome to purchase additional digital images and I have a range of digital and print packages on offer starting from £99. All digital packages contain a print copyright so you can print as many times as you wish.
What happens if one of us gets poorly?
If a family member becomes poorly, i’m happy to reschedule the session, however would ask you to let me know as soon as possible.
Final Tips!
Prepare your outfits the day before and having everything ready to go so you're not stressed or rushed on the day of the session!
- If you have little children, be sure to bring some handy snacks and treats which can also be useful for a bit of bribery.
- Have fun! Above everything else I want your session to be as enjoyable and stress free as possible!