First Things First
Your family does not need to be perfectly coordinated, perfectly behaved, or perfectly comfortable in front of a camera. You just need to come as yourselves. A little preparation can make your session easier and help us create photographs you’ll be happy to print, frame, share, and enjoy for years to come.
What Should We Wear?
The best photographs usually happen when everyone coordinates without matching exactly. Instead of putting everyone in the same color, choose two or three colors that work well together and build everyone’s outfits around them.
For example:
- Cream, denim, and burgundy
- Navy, cream, and tan
- Forest green, cream, and brown
- Soft blues, grays, and denim
- Black, cream, and warm neutrals
Solid colors and simple patterns photograph beautifully. Try to avoid very large logos, bold lettering, neon colors, or extremely busy patterns that may draw attention away from the people in the photograph. Most importantly, wear something that feels like you.
Start With One Outfit
If you are dressing several people, don’t try to choose everything at once. Start with one outfit you really like, perhaps Mom’s dress, Dad’s shirt, or something special for one of the children. Then choose the other outfits using colors from that first piece. It makes coordinating a family much easier.
Think About Your Home
Since you will receive high-resolution digital files, you may want to print some of your photographs as wall art. Think about the colors you already use in your home. If your home is filled with warm, natural colors, you may want to choose similar tones for your clothing. If your home has cooler blues and grays, those colors may work beautifully too.
Comfort Matters
Choose clothing that fits well and lets everyone move comfortably. If someone spends the entire session pulling at a shirt, adjusting a dress, or worrying about uncomfortable shoes, it will show. Children especially should wear clothes they can comfortably sit, stand, cuddle, and move around in.
A Few Little Details
Before leaving home, take a quick look at:
- Hair
- Glasses
- Collars
- Jewelry
- Shoes
- Wrinkled clothing
- Food or drink around little faces
You don’t need perfection. These are simply the little things that are easier to fix before the photograph than afterward.
If You Wear Glasses
You are welcome to wear them. If you have another pair without transition lenses, bring them if possible. Transition lenses can sometimes stay dark indoors. Please don’t feel that you need to remove glasses if they are part of how you normally look.
Preparing Children
Please don’t spend the morning telling children they have to “be good for the pictures.” That can turn something fun into something they worry about. Instead, tell them we’re going to take some family pictures and have a little fun together. A well-rested child who has eaten is usually a much happier little photographer’s assistant! For very young children, feel free to bring a favorite small toy or comfort item.
Don’t Practice Smiles
Really. The smile you practiced in the mirror usually isn’t the one we’re looking for. I’ll help with posing and do my best to create natural expressions and connections between your family members. Some of my favorite photographs may be the ones between the “official” poses.
Package 2 Families
If you’ve chosen the Family Collection, think ahead about the smaller groupings that are most important to you.
We might photograph:
- The entire family
- Parents together
- Children together
- Mom with the children
- Dad with the children
- Girls together
- Boys together
- Grandparents with grandchildren
- Siblings
- Another meaningful combination for your family
We won’t necessarily photograph every possible combination, so knowing which ones matter most to you will help us make the best use of your session.
Please Arrive Ready
Because sessions will be scheduled throughout the day, please arrive dressed and ready for your appointment. Coming a few minutes early will give you time to settle in before we begin.
And One Last Thing…
Please don’t decide you need to lose weight, change your hair, buy an entirely new wardrobe, or wait until life feels more perfect before having family photographs made. Children grow. Families change. Years move faster than we think they will. The people you love want photographs of you as you are now. So come as you are, enjoy your family, and let me take care of the photos.
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