Want beautiful family photos and have little children? We all know how unpredictable young ones can be. Here’s a few tips to get the best outcome!
- Always feed your children before a photoshoot. An empty stomach can make anyone cranky but especially in children. Even bringing their favorite snack as a treat is a good idea. I always bring some fruit snacks with me but it never hurts to have extra goodies!
- I prefer shooting my outdoor sessions at sunrise or sunset to get some beautiful even lighting. Sunrise can be difficult getting everyone up, ready and in a good mood for early morning smiles. Sunset for young children in the summer can be too late for them and result in teary eyes. My recommendation, if you have young children, wait for the Fall when the sun sets early. October is prime time but also books up very fast. Plan ahead to get booked for the Fall!
- The 30 minute session is about the max time for cooperation. We start with the basic “looking at the camera” poses and then break out into more candid action photos with prompts. 30 minutes is usually just enough time to capture what we need before loosing cooperation.
- Studio vs outdoors with little children. Studio sessions are great for temperature control and can be done anytime of the day. However, they do need to stay within the light rather than moving around, like we can outdoors. Use your best judgement on deciding what’s best for them!
- What to wear? Colors will always depend on location, time of year, or backdrop. I will make recommendations based on those. Choose comfortable fitting clothing, nothing too tight or too short. We can get more poses this way and you can be comfortable. Long flowing gowns or layers are great for moms and girls. Dads and boys in jeans or khakis with t-shirts, button downs, polos or collared sweaters. Add hats, or bows or headbands to add some more personality. Don’t have everyone matching in the same outfits, instead, coordinate between 2-3 colors.
- Practice a little before your photoshoot! Make it a fun game with your little one, show them pictures of themselves and let them take pictures of you.
