I’ve been a family photographer for almost 20 years. I don’t do too many shoots a week because blogging and mom life is all-encompassing these days, but I still am averaging a few shoots a month. Which means I still get the panicked emails from clients who want to know what to expect going into a shoot, how to prepare, and what all they need to remember and basically asking for the ultimate guide to planning family portraits emailed to them.

Because I don’t feel like writing a novel each time I get this email last minute, I thought I would create the ultimate guide to planning family portraits to help me get everything in one place with easy links to other content that might be helpful. Note to self: save this to send to every client, ever.

The Ultimate Family Picture Survival Guide

5 tips for the months or weeks before your shoot

1. Choose your photographer wisely and try not to base the decision solely on price. The photographer you choose will be the person orchestrating the shoot for you, so make sure you like their consistency, their vision, and their style. Ask for recommendations from friends, look through portfolios and websites, and find a photographer that suits your style.
2. Pick the perfect location. Some families like to shoot in the same location every year, others like to change it up. Whatever you do, make sure you know what your location will look like in the season you are photographing. Keep in mind that the beautiful meadow of wildflowers might only be in bloom for a teeny tiny window of time, so schedule your shoot and location accordingly.
3. Don’t expect everything to be perfect. It won’t be. You won’t get the beautiful pictures on the photographer’s website… you’re getting something much, much better: a time capsule of your own uniquely beautiful family loving on each other and showing their individual personalities.

   

4. The time and day of your photo shoot are going to make it or break it. Want gorgeous “golden hour” photos? You’re going to need to schedule your shoot during that window, even if it means switching up your schedule that day so everyone is well rested and on their best behavior.
5. Make it official. Once you have your photographer, date and location selected, put it in everyone’s calendar so there are no surprises. Make sure everyone knows that this shoot is important to you and that you’re excited about getting it done.

The weeks before – 10 tips for deciding what to wear and primping

This step tends to make normally sane people panic. I get it, I do. But, it doesn’t have to be as hard as you’re making it, I promise.

1. Find the outfit of the hardest person to dress. This is typically you, mom, because after kids all of our fashion dollars tend to go to our adorable humans. My best advice is to find an outfit YOU feel amazing in. The best outfits will be something you feel will pass the test of time, and something you won’t horribly regret in just years.
2. Machine care, only. The best outfit will be one you aren’t terrified of getting a little dirt on it. Laying around in fields and frolicking at the beach isn’t always as pretty as the resulting pictures. Relax a bit and let yourself have fun… and remember not to wear anything dry clean only.

   

3. Try it out. Before you confirm your outfit choice, try it all on together. Yes, everything. Does it fit nicely, looked polished, and make you feel good? Great! Now that you have your outfit on, try sitting, standing, kneeling, squatting, lifting, and carrying kiddos. Still comfortable? Awesome, I think you have your outfit. You don’t want to appear stiff or be unwilling to try something fun your photographer suggests, so comfort is a must.
4. Identify a color scheme based on YOUR chosen outfit. Maybe you are going neutrals with a pop of color or you have a fall-themed color palette, or maybe you prefer a classic white and jean look. Once you have a potential color scheme, be sure to keep in mind where you will be hanging your finished pictures so you can try your best to match your room’s decor. Use this color theme to help you coordinate everyone else around your outfit choice and your intended display wall. Need help? Search for photo color palettes on Pinterest.
5. Then, the kids. Now that you have your outfit and a color scheme, find potential outfits for the kiddos in your color palette. Aim to keep the kids clothing as classic and traditional as possible, and avoid logos at all costs.

   

6. Keep the busy patterns to a minimum. In a family of 4 the ideal would be one busier pattern {contrast stripes, bright polka dots, or something similar}, one muted pattern {plaid or tonally striped}, and then two {mostly} solid colors. For 5, you can add in another muted pattern. Or, you can go with all solid colors and add pops of pattern with shoes, scarves, bows, etc.
7. Choose a classic outfit for dad. He’s typically the easiest to dress, so I like to save his outfit for last. If he’s more difficult, choose his right after yours.
8. Have fun with accessories. This is the perfect time to pull out matching necklaces for you and your girl, coordinating scarves, fancy earrings, or fun shoes. I caution against choosing super trendy accessories unless you get your portraits done frequently, but ultimately the choice is up to the accessorizer to choose items that just make you happy – you will be staring at this shot for years!
9. Change it up. If you can’t do a full outfit change, at least have an accessory that you can remove or change during the shoot {like a cardigan, headband, vest, scarf, or something else that can be taken off quickly} for as many family members as possible. This will make for more varied pictures even if you’re in the same outfit from picture #1 – #300. You will be very, very happy you did this if you’re making a picture wall, a calendar, or a photo book where you don’t want it to look like you’ve only had one family photo shoot ever.
10. Primp in advance. Plan your eyebrow waxing, hair colors and cuts at least a few days before the shoot. That way you won’t have red or irritated skin, dye on your scalp, or brand new cuts you don’t know how to style. Anywhere from 3-7 days in advance is ideal.

    

10 tips for immediately before and during your shoot

1. Feed the kids beforehand. It seems simple and obvious, but sometimes the stress of getting everything ready means meals and snacks are skipped. I don’t recommend snacks during the shoot for obvious reasons, but feed the kids before and have snacks waiting for after.
2. Get the kids {and any unwilling adults} psyched about the shoot ahead of time. If they see the photo shoot as fun and exciting, they will hopefully bring their A game.

   

3. Trust your photographer. If they say it won’t work, please trust them. If they seem game for trying something crazy, by all means, go for it. But, if you get a “no” please trust their expertise.
4. Go with the flow. I have seen some of the most amazing photo shoots miraculously come together out of chaos and I’ve seen great photo shoots ruined by stressing over the details. Try to be somewhere in the middle and relax as much as possible. The very best shoots come together naturally, and you don’t want to be the one who ruined pictures because you were so worried about the details. You just continue to smile and be happy and I promise you that your photographer will appreciate it.
5. Pick your battles. In the long run it won’t matter that little Ezra refuses to wear the hat you brought, and forcing the issue might add extra stress. If the hat was great-grandpa’s and it’s not up for discussion, make that known ahead of time. Don’t use your shooting time to bargain with him and convince him. That’s what the drive over is for. The shoot should be fun and lighthearted, not a lecture and a stand-off.
6. Be willing to try something different. Remember how we’re trusting the photographer? He/she can see the angles in the camera and they know that you want the most flattering pictures of your family. Trust them when they tell you to move something, stay still, and especially when they ask you to try something new. If nothing else, you will probably have more fun that way. If you’re having fun, it will show in the pictures. There have been times I asked someone to do something funny just to get them to relax. Even if that funny picture ends up on the cutting room floor, it helps break the ice and get more natural pictures.

   

7. Remember to take off a layer, remove an accessory, etc. partway through your shoot. I especially love when the pops of color can be removed easily and you are left with a more neutral palette for part of the pictures.
8. Help your photographer get to know your group. If little June hates grass, make sure you make that known and find solutions for that sitting in the open field picture you really, really want. Bring your own props and solutions if you are dealing with a photo ruiner {just about every family has one – the trick is to identify it quickly get that person to have fun}.
9. Try not to put too much pressure on this one photo shoot. This will hopefully not be your last photo shoot you schedule, so don’t try and tick off every box on your wishlist. Let this shoot stand alone, and then schedule another one in 6 months or a year.
10. Don’t forget the candids. I know you want the pictures for grandma and grandpa or the Christmas card shot, but don’t forget to allow for candids during the shoot as well! These are typically my favorite shots and ones that are hardest for me to capture with remote or timer.

    

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