When you search “family portraits” online, you’ll find happy, smiling faces reclining on beaches or families strolling through beautiful parks with their sweet puppies. However, the reality of family photography can often be far less magical. Whiny children, exhausted parents and unruly pets can make the experience more stressful than expected! But don’t worry, we are here to share our top six tips on how you can make your next family photo shoot go as smoothly as possible.
Coordinate But Not Matching
Choosing what to wear can cause major headaches before a photo shoot. It’s challenging enough to decide for yourself, let alone trying to pick an outfit for everyone in the family. We always ask our clients to think of their dream family photos. What do they look like? Do you envision neutral and soft colours, or do you want to showcase your family’s unique and fun side? It’s a good idea to coordinate outfits, but you also want to avoid being too matchy-matchy. Most importantly, everybody should feel comfortable in their outfit choices, or else the photos can turn out stiff and unnatural!
Get Ready Early
We always advise our clients to allow more time for getting ready than they think they’ll need. We want to avoid mums rushing around, making sure everybody is dressed and ready before a photoshoot! Leave plenty of time for showers, baths, dressing, grooming and last-minute wardrobe malfunctions. When a family shows up feeling rushed and stressed, it often sets the tone for an equally rushed session. So, give yourself that extra time!
Try Different Combinations
One of the essential parts of family portraits is showcasing the beautiful bond between family members. While it’s great to include everyone, we recommend experimenting with combinations, such as mother and son or grandparents and toddlers, to capture more intimate moments within the family. This is also an excellent tip for those with young children. Kids tend to lose interest in picture-taking and posing very quickly, so it’s best to work fast before the kiddos run out of energy!
Bring An Activity
We understand that being in front of the camera can feel awkward sometimes. That’s why we suggest families bring an activity that they love doing together. It gives you something to do with your hands, engages the kiddos and can help take your mind off the camera. We find that the most authentic and beautiful photo opportunities arise when families are engaged and interacting with each other.
Have Fun!
Last but not least: remember to have fun! Laugh. Giggle. Joke around with your kids. Play! All these things will give the photographer opportunities to capture the true dynamic and beauty of your family.
Are you looking for a professional photographer in Winnipeg? Call Madix Photography today! From weddings, maternity, baby to family photography, we do it all. Capture life’s most precious moments with Madix photography!