#FAMILY PHOTO SESSION TIPS HOW TO#
#FAMILY PHOTO SESSION TIPS PROFESSIONAL#

One of the most common phrases we hear from parents is “We’ve been meaning to book a family session for so long and just never seemed to get around to doing it” or “We don’t have any picture of all of us together.” One question that always gets a smile is, “Tell me about your girlfriend/boyfriend.” They will either smile because they have one, or smile because I asked in the first place.“We didn’t know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun” I ask a lot of questions, “Are you on Snapchat? What’s your favorite movie? Do you play a sport?” Then I’ll make funny comments about those answers. If I’m working with a teen, I’m less silly and focus more on getting to know the child. If I’m still having trouble getting the child to cooperate, I will play Simon Says, have a staring contest, or have them shout out something I say like, “Purple Pickle Pirates!”. Playing peekaboo behind the camera is another fun game especially for really little ones. When I’m photographing all of the kids together, I am constantly moving around and being overly dramatic.įor example, I use big body language with hands in the air and say things like, “Oh my word look at your face!! Holy cow it’s the cutest face I’ve ever seen, Herman!!” Just being over the top silly not only gets them to relax, but it gives genuine expressions and interactions between the children.

#FAMILY PHOTO SESSION TIPS HOW TO#

Yes, exciting! And here is where I tell you how to do just that.Ħ. As soon as they see us in person, we need to give the message that the next 20 to 60 minutes will be painless and exciting.

As photographers, we have to get in front of that right off the bat. Small kids who are shy and teens who think any adult is annoying.

Dad and kids are likely coming along to the shoot with gritted teeth and a slight attitude because, well, because the only thing they remember from their last session? A stiff, business-like session with fake grins and expressions. We all know that Grandma is certainly going to want that everyone-looking-at-the-camera picture to show off to all of her friends therefore, I always include posed shots of both the family as well as a kid group shot.Īll that said, my main goal during sessions is for the family to have fun. My photography style is laid back with a bit of posed shots thrown in as well. Not to mention, I’m basically a big kid in an adult body so that helps a lot, too. So, it’s safe to say that I’ve had my fair share of kid interactions. Before I had children, I was a second-grade teacher and I have mounds of nieces and nephews. So without further ado, let me hand over now to Melissa to give you her tips for making family photos session fun….Īs a mom of four girls ranging from 4 to 17, I have been around the block a time or two when it comes to getting genuine expressions and reactions in photos. I’ve been a massive fan of her work (both personal and professional) for years now, and I also know she has nailed that relaxed fun vice in her photos, website and brand, so it was a no-brainer to have her guest post on the blog to talk about this! There are some golden tips in this post, so I know you are going to walk away with loads of ideas on how to manage your own family sessions.

#FAMILY PHOTO SESSION TIPS PROFESSIONAL#

To help you get those relaxed happy family photos you’ve been looking for (and get those all important smiles from the kids) I’ve invited professional photographer Melissa Gibson to give me her tips on how she manages a session to make sure she gets the shots that people will love! Let’s face it, most people just simply aren’t a fan of getting their photo taken, and find the situation uncomfortable, and kids often find the whole thing one big bore (and they’ve probably already been told to be on their best behaviour so they are already expecting the worst!) The result can be images that look stiff and awkward.

This is a question I get asked all the time: “How do I get smiles from the kids, or stop people from looking awkward during a photo session?”

Family photo session tips