How to have a fun family portrait session!

Let’s be real, family portrait sessions can sometimes be stressful. Kids don’t want to cooperate, sometimes partners don’t want to cooperate. It happens, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get great pictures! Here are some tips to make your next family photo session a success!

A few days before the session prepare your family. Let them know that they will be getting their pictures taken and tell them who will be photographing them.

Let kids and partners have a little say in what they are going to wear and have them try it on ahead of time. Clothing should be comfortable and they should feel good about what they are wearing.

Make your photo session something that everyone will look forward to. Plan to go out for a special treat afterward. Ice cream is always a great after session reward!

Feed everyone before the session (including yourself). Hangry kids and adults tend to be less cooperative.

If you have nappers, make sure to wake them up at least an hour before the session. Kids that are woken up right before a session are generally not happy to have a camera in their face.

Bring snacks! Even if you’ve fed and watered everyone before hand, snacks are always good to have on hand to help with cooperation. Fruit snacks or M&M’s are great choices.

Let the photographer guide them. Yeah, they might not listen or do exactly what they’re told, but sometimes that’s even better! Kids come up with some fantastic poses all on their own. Having too many people shouting directions at them can be overwhelming, so just relax and let them work it. That’s how their personalities shine through!

The last thing you should do is take a deep breath, relax and have fun! Just go with the flow and you’ll have fantastic pictures!

Now let’s go out there and have a great photo session!