Family Photography Tips and Tricks for Your Next Session
Family photos, especially with young ones, can feel daunting. Getting the kids bathed, dressed, everyone’s hair done, and then STAYING clean is an ordeal. And when your spouse isn’t super excited to take photos either, it can make the experience feel especially overwhelming.
That’s where I come in. My goal as your family photographer is to make your experience, from booking your session to figuring out outfits to the actual photoshoot, easy, calm, and fun!
I want to capture authentic moments for your family photos. Yes, of course, we can do traditional poses and smiles, but experiencing your kids running, laughing, and having fun, is what it’s all about!
Baby Photography Tips
Tip #1: Schedule your photoshoot after their normal nap and feeding
One question I get asked all the time is “How do I keep my baby calm during a photoshoot?”.
My best advice is to schedule your photoshoot after your baby’s nap and feeding. This is the timeframe when babies tend to be the happiest.
Tip #2: Have Fun Distractions Ready
To keep your baby entertained, I recommend having their favorite songs handy on your phone or a favorite “noisy” toy, which could be as simple as a set of keys or a stuffed animal.
Tip #3: Dress Babies on Location
If you’re wondering, “How can I make my family look good in pictures?” The answer is surprisingly easy - get dressed on location!
To keep your outfits picture perfect, I recommend you drive to the location in a simple outfit, then change your baby into their shirt or dress and put on shoes once you arrive at the destination.
Newborn Photography Tips for Parents
Tip #1: Pop Those Bottles!
For babies 3 months and under, bring a bottle or have one on hand if we are shooting at your house.
Tip #2: Use Soothing Sounds
Especially for newborns, heaters and white noise machines are perfect to keep babies calm and happy during a photoshoot.
Tips for Family Photos with Toddlers
Tip #1: Bribery is Highly Encouraged!
I’m semi-joking…but not really! Bringing your toddler’s favorite snack or candy can help keep kids focused and excited during the shoot. But let's give it to them AFTER we are done with photos!
Tip #2: Don’t Forget Their Favorite Toy
Bringing your toddler’s favorite toy to bring them comfort if they are on the shyer side can help. Plus, it can also help keep their attention when the photographer holds the toy.
Tip #3: Turn Your Session Into a Dance Party
How do you make a photoshoot fun for kids? In my experience, playing their favorite song has proven to work time and time again. We can let them dance or have the parents dance with them to kick the smiles into gear.
Tip #4: Play Games
Playing tag, follow the leader, and peek-a-boo are all highly encouraged during your session. We want to see those genuine smiles, so let’s have fun!
I had one toddler smile every time someone faked sneezing! Start thinking about what makes your child smile or crack up and I’m 100% game to try anything!
Tip #5: Prepare Them Beforehand
For slightly older toddlers and kids, remind them that day and the night before that we are doing a FUN photoshoot. Show them photos of them and say we will be taking pictures of you like this one today (tomorrow). Let’s practice our “cheeses” and “smiles”.
Family Photography Tips for Parents
Tip #1: Practice Makes Perfect
Practice actively smiling, even when you're picking up your child, and make sure to have a soft smile on your face.
Tip #2: Embrace Movement
Don’t stress if your child isn’t posing or sitting still. We will move on to different movements, or let them decide what they want to do next. Oftentimes, these movement shots tend to be the best ones!
Tip #3: Go with the Flow
Photoshoots may feel chaotic, but I PROMISE we are getting good shots. Going with the flow is the name of the game. If your child suddenly wants down and doesn’t want to be held anymore, no problem! Let’s adjust our poses. Let them run! I’ll encourage them to run and give mom and dad a big hug.
Swinging them and throwing them in the air always guarantees a smile, so be prepared to do some movement during your sessions.
Tip #4: Pick the Right Session Length
When scheduling your family photoshoot, think about the time you’d feel more comfortable with and what your end goal of the session is.
Mini Sessions
Mini sessions are typically 15 minutes long and are a more cost-effective option. Mini’s are offered throughout the year, so look out for dates of when I offer group mini sessions. They are great for toddlers who love to run around and may not want to stay still.
Even though 15 minutes may seem short, it offers plenty of time to capture multiple poses and action shots.
Standard Sessions
30-minute sessions are the sweet spot for most family photos with young children. Depending on the location we will have time to utilize multiple poses with different background options. The time tends to go by quickly and I always guarantee 30 - 50 final edited photos.
Deluxe Sessions
One-hour sessions are great for taking a large volume of photos or for special occasions, including:
- Photoshoots with multiple outfit changes
- Family photos to celebrate a one-year-old’s birthday (complete with a cake smash!)
- A family photoshoot with individual portraits of your child or children
An hour may seem like a long time, but we will have time to take short breaks so you can eat a snack, change, or give your child a break and play for a minute or two.
Even with the occasional meltdown, a one-hour photo session allows time for your kids to adjust and get comfortable with taking photos, explore new environments, and have fun with their parents.
I always guarantee 60+ photos with a one-hour photo shoot, but I typically provide more edited photos than that because there are so many good moments to capture!
Schedule Your Family Photography Session
Are you ready to capture your family’s most precious moments? I am a family photographer in Phoenix, Arizona who specializes in creating fun, relaxing atmospheres that will result in amazing family portraits you will love for years.
Schedule a consultation for your family photography session today!
