A few hot tips on getting the best from your family photoshoot…
Comfortable Clothes
Suited and booted children rarely feel comfy, and we’re looking to capture the most natural photographs. In the same way, please resist giving them a ‘special’ hairstyle just for the photoshoot – you’re going to want to look back at the photographs and remember them how they were day-to-day.
Please try to avoid heavily branded clothing or anything super stylish as these items will date your photos much quicker. Likewise, please avoid dressing one child in stripes and one in spots.
If you’re having some family portraits with your children then exactly the same principles apply to you guys. All wear similar tones that compliment each other. For example, neutral colours work very well.
Don’t Over Prepare Them
The most successful photoshoots are the ones where parents haven’t discussed it too much beforehand. Try not to make a huge deal out of it and resist telling your children to be on their best behaviour – it leads to a more natural shoot when things are a bit more off-the-cuff. Let them relax and even be a little bit cheeky.
Don’t Tell Them To Say Cheese
This is a big one. Portrait photography is all about capturing your child in their most natural, happy state – a forced smile looks false and certainly isn’t going to result in the best portrait! Instead, let’s make them laugh and smile together.
Get Involved & Enjoy
The number one most important factors in determining the success of a family portrait session is the attitude of the parents. Those that turn up, hand their kids over and then sit on their phone for the rest of the session will rarely get great results. You don’t need to be in front of the camera but you do need to be engaged and involved… no-one knows how to make your children laugh like you do!