As the Holidays approach a lot of us are getting our family
photos done for Holiday cards and updated pictures around the house. Around
where I live, family photos are a big deal. I love creative, colorful and fun
photos. And I take pride in what I send my family and friends. I set the bar
higher and higher for myself each year. Here are a few helpful pieces of
information as you set forth organizing your shoot this year.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
1.
Finding
the right photographer. The right photographer is absolutely essential to
having your perfect pictures. I personally prefer a photojournalistic style.
2.
Setting. Outdoor
settings with natural light are best. We all look better in natural lighting. I
try to vary the location each year so our pictures look different. For the last
three years, we’ve gone to a scenic outdoor park, outside of a museum and an
urban downtown backdrop in front of brightly painted buildings.
3.
Timing.
Your photographer should already have scheduled you for this, but please go out
in the golden hours of the day, no more than an hour or two before sunset.
Lighting is best for both you and your photographer. I have one photographer
friend that is always eager to please someone else’s schedule and will take
photo shoots at 11 AM. The lighting is harsh. Her pictures are not at her best
for her or her customers. Not good. With all of the time, money and effort you
are putting in, please pay attention to timing to ensure the best result.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
4.
Grooming.
Keep everything fairly natural
so you all look like yourselves, but take it up one notch. If you don’t have
the chance to blow dry your hair and usually just flat iron in the mornings like
me, please
take this day to blow dry for a little extra volume. Wear lipstick
today. Curl the ends of your daughter’s hair. Spike up or comb over your little
guy’s hair.
5.
Wardrobe.
Wear fun things with lots of visual interest. My favorite way to coordinate the
family is to take one member of your family and give them a fun print to wear
with several colors. Usually this person is my daughter and the piece of
clothing is her dress or skirt. Work everyone else around this item. All
neutrals and denim are a go for everyone else, but remember to add pops of
colors picked up from the standout item as well as more subtle prints like
plaids, stripes and polka dots for everyone else. The worst thing you an do is
a bunch of solid colors of clothing with no visual interest at all. And
remember to accessorize and layer. Scarves, necklaces, jackets, hair bows,
hats, boots – these are your friends.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
6.
Be
Prepared. Bring a brush, hairspray, lipstick, mirrors. Check after every couple
of shoots. Take a one minute break. Make sure you take your kids to the
bathroom before the shoot. None of the places we shot in for the last three
years had bathrooms readily available. And give your kids a small non-messy
snack, so they have good blood sugar (this is taxing on them) and check
yourself for makeup and hair. Then go back to posing.
7.
Be silly.
Embrace your kids’ moods. Do not expect them to sit and
smile happily for an hour. This will not happen, unless your daughter is named
Pollyanna. Be prepared to tickle your kids, tell them jokes that make them
laugh, chase them and make sure to tell them how well they are behaved often
and thank them a lot.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
8.
Embrace
the outtakes. Some of my favorite photos are where my son is screaming and
my daughter is twirling. To me, the most natural and full of character the
better. You may not get a picture that is perfectly perfect with everyone
staring into the camera with perfectly relaxed smiles – that’s okay! One of my
favorites is from two years ago and none of us are looking at the camera. We
are interacting with each other and it’s natural and it’s lovely and I wouldn’t
trade it for a stiff family photo for anything.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
Okay, those are my rules.
And posted in this article are some of my favorite fun family photos from the last three years.
Credit to my family photographer, Sarah Atkinson of Moments Defined
Photography.
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| www.momentsdefinedphotography.com |
Rachael (Owner and Designer at Allie Gray)
