This post is all about how to get family photos you will love!

(This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.)

As a professional photographer and mom of 3 young/semi-cooperative kids, I have been on both sides of this lens, literally, haha. I know what you want as a mom and I also know what is reasonable to expect from your photographer. Here are the tips you will want to follow to ensure you love your family photos.

PICK THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

Ok, this very first step and sooo important! PICK THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER!!! Yes, I’m yelling, lol. This is imperative!

Here’s what I mean:

-If you like bright and airy photos, don’t pick a photographer whose gallery is filled with moody and contrasty images. You won’t get what you want!

-If you want candid shots that show movement, giggles, and fun, do not pick a photographer whose portfolio is filled with stiff subjects looking right at the camera and smiling. And vice-versa.

-If you want an outdoor family session, pick a photographer who specializes in outdoor family sessions! No matter how much you may love the personality of a photographer you know, if they don’t specialize in the type of photos you are looking for, you won’t get what you want! For instance, don’t hire a real estate photographer for your family photos. Don’t hire a photographer who only shoots in a studio for an outdoor shoot. In this example, a real estate photographer would likely not do well working with a group, (making the kids comfortable, posing everyone, and getting you to look your best). And a studio photographer may not know how to use natural light to the maximum potential for beautiful outdoor photos.

An important related point is this: Because you’ve done the homework to choose the right photographer up front, you can relax on the suggestions for your shoot. Do not send the photographer a long list or Pinterest board of poses you love or ideas you want to recreate, especially if they are very specific images. A good photographer will always do best if you trust in their process! If they spend the entire shoot trying to copy other’s ideas, no one is going to look natural and you won’t get what you want!

(If your photographer requests, an inspiration board you work on together can be a good jumping off point for the shoot, but please don’t expect them to copy anything else!)

HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

This next point is tied for the most important thing you can do, and this is often hard, but HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR KIDS! (Yes, I’m yelling again because it’s just so important!)

If your child is shy, don’t expect them to ham it up for the camera. If your child is full of energy, don’t expect them to sit still for more than a few minutes, at most. If you have a baby, don’t expect them to be looking/smiling in every photo. You have to know your kids and what they are capable of.

Even the best photographer can’t change a child’s personality!!!

Talk to your kids ahead of time too. Let them know where they are going, what to expect, that a nice lady/man is going to be taking some pictures, and make it sound super fun! I find that most kids do best when they aren’t walking in blind to a situation, especially shy ones.

Plus, the point of a family photoshoot is to capture your family as they are at that point in time, shy or wild. So don’t try to force anything else!

TRUST AND LISTEN TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Ok, so you’ve chosen the right photographer and have set realistic expectations. So now, you need to trust and listen to the photographer!

Let the photographer choose the time of day that the shoot begins. Lighting is sooo important. The photographer understands light and what time you will need to begin the shoot to get photos at the right time of day. (This is called the golden hour and is in the evening before sunset.)

Some parents will push back on that saying they want photos at noon because their child will be cranky later in the day. I get it. But, if you want photos at noon, you’ll want to do an indoor shoot in a studio. If you want outdoor photos with beautiful lighting, it’s going to have to be an evening shoot. So, have a low-key day with the kids, (this isn’t the day to go to the zoo), lay down and take a nap with them, bring snacks* for them, do whatever you need to do to get your child as perky as possible for shoot time.

*Pro tip: Do yourself and the photographer a favor and bring snacks that are small and don’t make a mess. Think smarties and cheerios. Nothing that will melt or can get all over the kids face and clothes. Some photographers may not be willing or able to Photoshop that mess out. Also, bring water to drink. Put it in a sippy cup or something with a straw if your child is still prone to spills.

Related Post: EVERYTHING you’ll want to bring to your photoshoot- for yourself and the kids!
https://linleydiane.com/everything-you-need-to-bring-to-your-family-photoshoot/

Also, BE ON TIME! Leave yourself plenty of extra time for traffic, detours, etc. Because you will be shooting close to sunset, if you are late, it will get dark. Sorry, can’t get cute photos in the dark! And if you are rushing and frazzled when you get there, it will show through in photos and your kids will pick up on that as well. So, get there at least 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

And if you aren’t totally ready when you get there, (maybe you need to get the baby in the dress you brought or feed them a bottle first) get there even earlier. If the photographer wants to start the shoot at 6:30, don’t roll in at 6:20 and need 30 minutes to get ready. If you do that, it will get dark before you are done! And even if it doesn’t get dark, your photographer has budgeted a certain amount of time for your session. She/he has every right to end it at the time limit, regardless of when you started. Which can mean less shooting time if you are late or not ready.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

If there’s one thing I know for sure as both a mom and as a photographer it’s this: it doesn’t matter how cute the rest of the family looks, if you (mom) don’t like how you look, you will not be happy with the photos!

With that in mind, mom should pick her outfit and accessories first (make sure to try it on!) and then style everyone else around that.

Mom should also get her hair and make-up done. Put on some eyelashes, go to Dry-bar. If it’s super windy or humid, probably don’t wear your hair down unless you want it blowing around or don’t mind frizz. Don’t forget your nails. Even if you don’t get your nails done, be sure you don’t have any chipping polish and that your polish matches your outfit, if you are wearing it.

Also, make sure you style everyone for the season! In the fall, the temperature can vary a lot, so when in doubt, plan in layers. A surefire way to ruin a shoot is if the kids are complaining that they are cold or hot. I promise they won’t look natural if their teeth are chattering, they have goosebumps and a snotty nose, or are overdressed and sweaty.

As a bonus, layers are a great way to get some variety in your photos without taking time to fully change.

If that sounds like a lot of take on, I agree. One of the hardest things (I think) is finding outfits for your whole family. Your photographer may be able to help with this or a stylist can.

As a jumping off point, I curated this list of affordable Amazon Prime Dresses for mom.

2 FINAL POINTS

Fall is the most popular time for family photoshoots. Most photographers book out several months in advance for these limited time spots. (Remember, they need to leave room in the calendar for rain out days/rescheduling too.) So, if you have a photographer you love and know you want to shoot your family, it is NEVER TOO EARLY to email them and get on their schedule. I’m talking spring here.

If you are looking for a mini session, most photographers open dates/times for these in the summer, even the holiday mini sessions. Both fall and holiday mini sessions sell out sooo fast (like within minutes of opening them for poplar photographers), so for whoever your desired photographer is, make sure you follow them on social media AND get on their email list so that when they announce a go-live date for their mini sessions, you can get a spot!

Finally, make sure you understand the photographer’s pricing and package structure. Some are all-inclusive, some charge a separate session fee and then sell packages later. Make sure you know what you are signing up for when booking (and when payments are expected) so you aren’t surprised (and pissed) when you thought you paid everything already but it was really just the session fee.

This post was all about getting family photos that you will love!

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