Family Portrait Session - Prep Guide

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 sessions usually last up to an hour, which is plenty of time to capture images of you all together, playing, snuggling and having fun. 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 fun shots first with you all playing and interacting with each other and finish with the more snuggly cuddly poses, so if little ones are tired, they can snuggle in still content.

The aim of a family portrait session is to deliver a combination of both posed portraits of you all and candid shots of those in-between moments!  I aim to capture it all - from tiny hands holding yours, snuggles with mum, dances with dad and the little ones just running around happy and free. I want you to enjoy your session and have fun so I can capture YOUR story which is unique to your family. I want your images to be authentic and true to you, not stiff or overly posed which is why I adore candid shots of you all. I always try and find out about your little ones before they arrive which helps me prepare - I often have a few little tricks up my sleeve to help them forget about the camera and overall just enjoy their session.

What to wear to your 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. I've also created a Pinterest board for some style inspo too! - click here to view.

 

• 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.

• Try and agree a style between you all, for example casual or more formal.

• 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!  A mixture of textures and colours that go together rather than match make for great photos. Don’t be afraid to wear vibrant colours, textures and patterns like florals and plaid.  Cottons, denim, textures knits all work too. Try and avoid pinstripes and logos! 

• Don't forget your shoes! Shoes can often be overlooked in photos but there’s a good chance they’ll be in the shot so worth thinking about.

• 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 and Where

Family portrait sessions can be held indoors or outdoors. Indoor sessions take place in my purpose built studio situated to the side of my house. For outdoor sessions, there are two main things I take into account when deciding when to hold your session - the first is when your children are likely to be happiest - happy children trump soft light any day. The second is when the light is going to be at its best, which is usually as close to sunrise or sunset as possible. This means that I get to work with that gorgeous soft light.  Taking pictures in the middle of day is of course possible but its worth bearing in mind the light and feel to the images is somewhat different. I will always try and avoid the midday sun as this can create very harsh shadows on faces and is not very flattering! If the weather forecast is showing cloudy, then it really doesn't matter what time of day we shoot.

In terms of location, I have plenty in mind and will agree with you a location during booking. If you've got a spot in mind, feel free to share! I've got a list of my favorite locations that I can suggest based on the time and weather, but I'm always open to exploring new places, especially if they hold special meaning for your family.

What happens if it's raining or the weather turns bad?

I’ll always get in touch with you a few days before your session to finalise details and at the same time i’ll be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.  If the weather is looking miserable then I’m always happy to rearrange the session.

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.

After the session

After your session I will send you a proofing gallery via email link where you will be able to go through and choose your favourite images depending on the package you have chosen. You are also welcome to purchase more images if you wish. Please allow around 2 weeks for your gallery to be delivered, although I will always try and deliver your gallery 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!