How to Make Your Family Photography Session FUN for the Kids
You are excited about your family portraits and looking forward to seeing your family artwork displayed throughout your home. The best tip for ensuring you have a successful family photography session? Make sure it’s FUN!
As an experienced family photographer, I’ve truly seen it all! You can trust a professional, like me, to get the best shot of your family no matter what. However, following these tips will help make sure your whole family has fun during the session AND helps us get great smiles.
7 Tips for a Great Family Photo Session
- Choose a Fun Location
Choosing a fun location is key! If your family loves the beach, let’s go to the beach! Have a favorite park? We can go there. If you’re dreaming of a studio family portrait, we can definitely make my studio fun!
Some of my favorite locations are:
Maudslay Park in Newburyport, MA (pictured here)
Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit, ME
Great Island Common in Newcastle, NH
Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH
- Dress Right Before the Session
I can do wonders with photoshop, but if there’s a spill or crease on someone’s outfit it’s really tough to make that look nice in the portrait! My best tip is to dress right before as best as you can. If we’re at my studio, you can dress or put on the final touches there. If we’re meeting at a park, we’ll do the best we can! Planning a spring session? Check out the latest BLOG post on What to Wear for Spring Family Photography Sessions.
- Leave Phones in the Car
Or at least silenced and put away! We don’t want your phone or tablet to become a distraction in any way during the session. Put them away and let’s have some fun!
- Play Music
Speaking of fun, let’s have some fun with music! If there’s a song or playlist that your family loves, let’s play it for some happy vibes. Spontaneous dancing is welcome during the session and makes for fun photos.
- Play Games
Bonus, if you can bring a ball or frisbee. Playful shots of the family playing are sometimes the best ones. We’ll make sure to take family portraits, but so many of my clients end up loving the candid shots the most!
- Let Your Kids PLAY
Yes, let them play! The old way of standing completely still for portraits is long gone. Those types of portraits are totally fine but don’t show off everyone’s personality and joy. Letting your kiddos romp around allows me to capture them as their true, playful selves!
- Bring Snacks for AFTER
Trust me, I know how hungry these sessions can make kiddos. Please do bring snacks, BUT I recommend that you wait until after the session is over. A bonus tip would be to bring a fun snack or picnic to celebrate the photos.
Schedule Your Family Portrait Session
I would love to be your family photographer! I’m honored that so many of my clients’ come back to me again and again so I can watch them grow! Interested in scheduling your family portrait session? Click here to chat!
Mommy & Me Mini Sessions will be announced later this month so be sure to get on our VIP list to get first dibs!
