4 Easy Tips to Get Ready for a Family Photo Session

So you booked a family photo shoot... Now what? Follow these 4 easy tips to get ready for a family photo shoot and walk in with complete confidence. Using this handy guide will totally help you rock your session!

Tip 1: Coordinating Colors

Do you ever wonder how you decide what to wear on photo shoot day? Of course you do! It's an important day and you want to dress your best. The trick to getting everyone's outfits to look coordinated (while avoiding the dreadful matching shirt conundrum) is to focus on the color palette.

Color is a great way to tie everyone together but not everyone has to wear every color. Decide on a color palette of 3-4 colors that go together. This creates a more natural look as opposed to everyone wearing the exact same color. Pick colors that you love and that you know you look great in. Another way to choose might be to consider how your home is decorated. Choose colors that are going to look good on your walls when you frame your beautiful new family pics.

Easier said than done right? So let's get specific. Let's pretend your color palette is Navy, Grey, Teal and White. Mom's dress is Navy and she has on a Teal Statement necklace and earrings. Dad's shirt is grey or white paired with navy or denim pants (and maybe even a sport coat or tie if he's that kind of guy). The children can wear any combination of Teal, White or Grey. Girls love to wear jewelry to match mom. Scarves add fantastic pops of color and can tie together pretty much any color combo. Shoes, bow ties, bows/headbands, watches, and belts are fun ways to incorporate color as well.

An artist's note on color palettes: Color can be a hard topic to tackle so if you're feeling stuck, just start by picking a color you love and pair it with a couple of neutrals. Neutrals are typically described as beige, grey, white, and black.

Color Palette= Brown, Orange, Teal, Denim & Black

Color Palette= Navy, Maroon, Denim, Black

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Tip 2: Be True to YOU!

There's nothing worse than wearing something uncomfortable am I right? I hate getting dressed up in something I would never wear because I always end up feeling awkward and stiff. I also hate when someone else tries to tell me what to wear (well that part never really happens because I'm the mom and I make the rules.) But... that's how dad and the kids might feel when getting ready for a photo shoot!

One of the most important things to consider when picking outfits for family picture day, is to be true to YOU. Pick clothing that is comfortable, yet classically stylish. Choose pieces that are simple yet flattering. Solid colors, patterns and plaids are totally welcome! However, let's leave the graphic and character tees in the closet today... they can date the pictures significantly and become distracting.

It's really fun to get dressed up and it definitely adds to the excitement of the day. Clothing is how we show the world our own unique style and it should reflect your personality. So if flowing floral dresses are your thing, rock it. Or maybe you're a skinny jeans and boots kinda gal? Whatever your preferred look, just go with it. Pick items that you know you look good in and feel great in. And once you've decided on your color palette, then you can start to build everyone's outfits based on their own individual preferences too. Happy shopping y'all!

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Tip 3: Accessorize Baby!

This is my favorite part of putting together an outfit! Accessories are a fun and easy way to elevate your look in seconds. It is also a great way to tie together your color palette!

Think statement necklaces, earrings, fancy watches, scarves, blazers, denim jackets, or ties. You can even think about hats... like a fun summer straw hat or a Panama style for the guys... Little kids look great in scally caps or berets. If you have girls, headbands and bows are always in style! Oh! And don't forget about your shoes!! Shoes are are essential in completing an outfit.

Picking accessories can be a really fun way to finish off your look for photo shoot day. Have fun with it! And if you're stuck, you can always consult Pinterest!

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Tip 4: HAVE FUN!

Okay so the hard part is over, you are here and you look amazing! You put together fantastic outfits for the whole family! Congratulations!!

Now let the FUN begin!

I LOVE what I do so when you get to photo shoot day, let me take care of the rest. I will make sure to pose, adjust, and pay attention to the details so that your images turn out great. You don't have to worry about a thing. My number one priority is making you all feel at ease in front of the camera. I play with the kids, get them laughing and snap away photos you'll love the whole time. I also tell bad jokes (duh!) and bring snacks, water, bug spray, hairspray... I got you covered!

I think somewhere along the way family photo shoots got a reputation for being stressful... but I have not had that experience. I love kids and feel totally at ease making new friends. I worked in childcare for 15 years before staying home with my girls to pursue this dream. That experience combined with 'Mom Brain' comes through in every session... I truly get it and know how much you want good photos of your family (with YOU in them!)

This day is all about the wonderful moments that make your family unique and special. Just relax, be yourself and have fun... it's going to be great, I promise!!

Pro Tip: Plan Something Fun to do Afterwards!

Make a day of it and plan something nice to do as a family after the shoot. For one, you already look fantastic so you need to go show off in public right? And two, a little bribery can go a loooonggg way with kids. You could also go big and plan to drop the kids at grandma's or a friend's and plan a much needed date night... You did work hard after all and totally deserve a night off!

Let me know how this article helped you plan for your photo shoot by leaving a comment below! If you'd like to schedule a family photo shoot... let's do this!

Erin's Gift of Family Pictures

Deats/Tice Family- February 2018

Let me introduce you to my friend Erin.  She did the sweetest thing for her family.  She gifted them a photo shoot!  Her family is everything to her and she wanted to get them all together to capture this particular season of life.

We met on a beautiful and rare warm February morning.   With snow still on the ground (from a quick storm a few days ago), we wandered around in the warm rays of sunshine as if 60 degree days are normal this time of year.  The weather here is unpredictable and can change in an instant… at least that is the rational explanation for snow one day, sunshine the next.  But on this day, I think it was more luck than anything. 

We gathered the whole family under the giant willow.  A tree that has so much presence. And if you’re from here (and especially if you do portrait photography) you know about that tree.  The magical way the branches cascade from the sky.  How you can stand on the north side of the tree at a higher elevation and get the beautiful landscape, the reaching branches, and your subjects all in one frame… it’s a perfect place to start.

After a few warm up shots of the whole family, I decided it was time to give the “kids” a break and pull mom and dad aside.  You know I love to bring couples together and let them have a moment to themselves during shoots.

Steve and Cynthia, were there with their grown children and 2 teenage grandchildren.  So I knew that when I asked them how long they’d been married, that the answer would be a higher number than the younger families I am used to photographing.  But it was higher than I expected.  I don’t really know why.  Maybe it’s their youthful and active appearance.  Maybe it’s the way they still wrap up in each other.  Maybe it’s the way he looks at her when she laughs--in a way that gives me all the feels.  When they said, “44 years” I stopped.  Lowered my camera and literally had my mouth open in astonishment.  44 years people! 

I am only 34.  I think about all the hard times I’ve had, the long days and even longer nights worrying about things… like my family, my kids, my marriage, my friends, my career.  Thinking that my husband and I have been through so much in our almost 17 years together.  Nope.  We are just at the beginning.

When I look at a couple who has been married for 44 years, surrounded by their adult children, one of which has given them 2 grandchildren, I know that they have seen way more than me.  They have gone through this crazy life together side by side and in this particular season, are still smiling at each other!  That is a powerful testament to marriage.  I love that I can look at them and know that as the saying goes, 'the days are long but the years are short.' 

As we continued on, walking around, stopping for snapshots here and there, they told me the only photo shoot they’d ever had was for their church directory many years ago.  I knew in an instant what those kind of photos probably look like and couldn't help but laugh.  I was even more energized by this nugget of information because that meant that this was the first time  they had ever experienced a real family photo shoot!  Not to say studio pictures aren’t real but I mean...come on let’s be real.  If you have any of those relics with the boring grey background, hair that’s too big, clothes that are a bit too fancy and your sibling has his or her hand resting on your shoulder (when in all reality they would've probably never willingly touched you unless the photographer made them) then you know what I’m talking about!! All of which this family does in fact have...Erin sent me a picture to prove it!

But don’t get me wrong, those pictures are special too.  They have a place in history and they documented a time in life that was worth documenting.  It’s just very exciting for me that I am growing my business in an age where family photo shoots are a lot more authentic-and to be totally honest- fun! 

Erin knew the benefit in having this style of family photography from a shoot we did a couple of years ago.  So when she wanted to do an extended family session as a gift to her family, I was pumped!  I was excited to be with them again because they are really fun to be around.  She is one of those cool moms that have children that totally adore her even though they are in their teen years.  They love on each other, tease each other, laugh a lot and are genuinely happy to be spending time together.  Cuddles flow freely and usually result in a rib poke… you know, family stuff.

What Erin did for her family was more than a gift of pictures.  It was a gift of time.  Time spent getting ready, driving in the car, talking, laughing, hugging, smiling, remembering, slowing down, catching up, going for a bite to eat afterwards and just being together.  And since we don’t know how much time we have left on this Earth together, what a wonderful way to spend a uniquely warm & sunny morning.