The absolute most important thing to not forget for your family photo shoot is… FUN!
With Holiday Card season upon us, I wanted to share my biggest tip for family sessions. Make it fun! Family photos can get very stressful, especially with small children (with small attention spans.) No one wants to spend an hour forcing strained smiles and threatening to punish kids if they don’t behave. If you have fun, play games, and make it enjoyable, the photos will be much more memorable!
Here are some ways to get your kids PSYCHED to take great family photos:
Before your appointment, present your photoshoot as something super exciting. Make your family photos an exciting activity for the whole family.
Getting kids involved in the process instead of just telling them what to do helps keep them interested in taking photos. Ask them what photos they want to take, ask them what they want to wear, ask them if they want to bring their favorite toys for props.
Think of some games you can play with your kids during the session that they’ll enjoy. There’s always Tag, Ring around the Rosie, etc. But you can also make up your own or have your kids make up some.
Instead of staying still in your poses, play games, laugh, tickle fight, make jokes, anything you can think of!
Remember that natural smiles and laughter always make the best pictures. Go with the flow and don’t worry about “the perfect portrait.”
