A portrait session with your family can give you a ton of things: wonderful photos you can hang on your walls, bonding time with your loved ones, and physical memories that you can glance at and say, “what a day that was!”
However, the perfect family photo might not be as easy to arrange. If you already have your hands full with the kids, your pets, and your husband wearing the wrong shirt, you’re not alone. Here are five tips to help you keep your sanity when you start asking yourself: “Why did I ever think this was a good idea?”
Prep your kids
Talk to your children about what’s going to happen. They’ll naturally be curious about all the camera equipment. Remind them to smile and be happy during the photo shoot, and that they should follow the directions of the photographer. You can turn it into a game so the kids will find it more fun.
Decide on the location
Talk about this with your photographer. If you and your family are going to be standing around under the sun for the better part of an hour, it wouldn’t take your kids before they start complaining. Make sure they’re comfortable whatever that location may be, the SLR Lounge says. You could pick one or talk to your photographer for suggestions.
Pick a theme
What kind of shoot did you have in mind? Do you want something simple and lovely? Or do you want to go for a theme? Thinking of dressing up your kids as fairies? If you’re a superhero fan, how about a little iron man or spider man? Do you want to be photographed as a family of storm troopers? Bring whatever creative ideas you have and toss it at your photographer. You may come up with something fun, original, and memorable, something you and your kids will remember down the road.
Coordinate your clothes
You don’t need to wear the same clothing. But you should at least wear the same style, color or shades. That’s going to register well in the photographs. However, don’t sacrifice comfort for style. Pick outfits that you and your kids will be comfortable in, especially since you’ll be spending time posing in those clothes. If they’re scratchy or too tight, that’s going to come across during the shoot or even put an end to the session much too soon.
Do your homework
Don’t forget to do a bit of research when you look for a family photographer in Oshkosh. Look at the photographer’s portfolio. What kind of photos did you like? Which ones appealed to you? Do you think the person is capable of the style or approach that you want for the pictures? What about equipment? Are you hiring someone with the specialized equipment needed for the shoot? What kind of credentials does your photographer have?
Conclusion
A portrait session is well worth it for the photos alone. The bonding time is just a handy side-benefit. Prepare for the sessions ahead by keeping these tips in mind. Have fun!
