How to Plan a Family Photo Shoot
aka, How to Plan a Family Photoshoot that’s not a Sh*t Show
Who doesn’t want the perfect family photo with everyone smiling and looking at the camera?!
But let’s be real. This is about as common as spotting a unicorn. How many of those have you seen lately??
The expectations should be - a photo including all the humans that are related to you.
That’s it, I didn’t even say what direction they are facing or if anyone’s crying or matching. Simply, all your people in one frame.
Here are my general rules to accomplish just that:
Location. It should be your home. Are you seriously trying to travel with unpredictable toddlers? Kids are usually most comfortable at home so your chances of a smile go way up when they feel comfortable. You also have a bathtub, endless snacks and outfit changes to prepare for any possible obstacle. That negates having to pack any of these things to go on location. Sure, the beach is beautiful. But wait for when you don’t have a butt to wipe or a tantrum time bomb to avoid.
Outfits should be familiar. To everyone. Try on your clothes before day of photoshoot. Move around in front of the mirror to make sure the angles are flattering. You are allowed to wear something you already own and feel comfortable in! This also goes for every family member. Kiddos will show discomfort in tight clothes and poofy skirts so it’s best if it’s something they’ve worn before or at least had a dry run in. Choosing a color scheme goes a long way - like blue and red - everyone looks good in one of those colors!
Play some music! Make it a dance party! Playing your favorite tunes while you smile for the camera is a great way to capture cuties dancing and smiling. We all have phones with speakers so minimal effort needed to accomplish this. Bonus points if you have a family dance party playlist saved!
Choose time of day based on best mood. If your crew is slow to get it together in the morning (all the hands raised over here!) then do not plan a day break photoshoot. I don’t care how great the lighting is! Guaranteed for grumpy faces and tired parents. Choose a sweet spot in the schedule. Ours is right after nap time but before the evening witching hour sets in. This may also change depending on season because if your sweet spot is 11 AM then maybe mid August isn’t the best time to take family photos, just wait until it cools off a bit.
Make a shot list. You think you’ll remember what arrangements you want but in the chaos of the moment it could be forgotten. It doesn’t have to be more than a text to your photographer. I encourage you to include photos with each of your children one on one as well as your spouse. That way you have an easy checklist to go down. You will also want to include positions like one where we’re all sitting on a blanket. Which I may add after trying impromptu is my new favorite photo prop for a family! I would also add bubbles to your prop list.
Include your four-legged friends if possible! Although as I learned from our first attempt to include three dogs, it adds a lot to the chaos. Then again, my favorites include them.
We have photos done every 6 months because kids grow so much and capturing those moments give me endless social media content. Have fun with it! In the future we won’t remember all the hard nights fighting kids in the pajamas an hour after bedtime, we just remember the smiles!
Cheers mi amiga
