Fall is here, and we all know what that means—it’s time for family photos. There are few things in life that creates stress like the dreaded family photo. What to wear, how are you going to wrangle your littles to make sure you get at least one decent picture, and how are you going to bribe your partner into going along with it without complaining (or at least complaining less than last time). All the pressure is quite literally enough to make you want to skip it all together. But so many pictures on our phones never get printed and shared, and a more formal family photo session makes it easy to capture a fleeting moment in time that is ready to be framed and displayed!
So book that photographer girlfriend, because we are going to tackle outfit selection and day of photo tips and tricks.
How do you get the perfect look for photos? Well you start here:
- Pick your outfit first. This feels backward because so many times we find the perfect outfits for our littles and then run around trying to build an outfit for ourselves. If you find the outfit that you are feeling your best in, it makes it so much easier to style the rest of the family around YOUR look. It is okay to be selfish this one time momma!
- Texture is important, whether through fabric or print density, because it helps provide depth in your photo. Try that lace skirt you’ve been wanting to wear or maybe that waffle cardigan as a layering piece.
- Once your colors or prints are determined, pull looks for the rest of the family that are in similar tones or complementing patterns without being too coordinated. For instance, if you are choosing burgundy, choose a softer rose-tone for your daughter to complement your look.
- Don’t forget to add finishing touches such as jewelry or a scarf to create additional texture and visual interest. Layering and accessorizing is often forgotten but it makes a HUGE difference.
Now, we have the outfits down and it’s picture day and you totally freeze on what to do. Don’t worry momma, we got you here too!
- Get ready to have the time of your life! Letting kids be themselves always brings out the most authentic smiles and laughter, which results in beautiful pictures. My little girl loves to dance so we make sure the photographer]captures her doing what she loves best. Not only does that help you remember who your little is at that stage in their life, but it also helps them relax in front of the camera, so you get more natural looking images.
- Let the photographer do the work. As parents, we feel responsible for our kids’ behavior and during photos feel the need to remind everyone to look at the camera, stand a certain way, and for goodness sake smile and stop fidgeting. If you just focus on making sure that you are smiling and ready for the shot, then the photographer will work her magic and make sure she is capturing the images when everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. No one wants a picture with mom’s mouth open as she is yelling or even worse your bad side as your head is turned trying to keep tabs on everyone.
- Get plenty of rest before the shoot. If you have young kids, do not schedule your session during nap time. When kids are tired, regardless of their age, it can be challenging to capture the photos you are looking for. You may not get those “golden hour” shots that photographers love at either sunrise or sunset but if you have found yourself a good one, she will capture the perfect images regardless.
- Keep them fed. Nobody wants a hangry kid during your family photos, so make sure that you have snacks on hand to keep your littles happy. It also doesn’t hurt to have some favorite treats for your big kids too—in case you need a little bribery to get those precious smiles. (We may or may not be talking about your partner here…).
Now go schedule that photo shoot momma and share some of your favorite shots down below!
