Picture Perfect!

It’s that time of year again when the seasons are changing, and the holidays are looming—which also means it’s the perfect time to get family photos taken! I have asked for parents’ input advice from some mothers who are photographers on how to obtain those picture perfect moments. I have a few tidbits to add gleaned from my side hustle as a family photographer for the past few years, too. 

First of all, plan ahead. This is pretty obvious, but there’s a lot to consider when having family photos taken, and this is not something you want to do in a stressed out rush. First, you need to find a photographer who will both work for your family’s style and budget and who has availability. Ask your friends or neighbors who they recommend and do some research to see whether any of those professionals will work well for your family’s needs. There are numerous types of photographers with a wide range of styles and investment options. If you have high expectations and want a specific editing style, make sure you choose a photographer who can deliver that quality to you. If you would rather have some simple photos taken mostly for holiday cards, consider using an amateur photographer who’s doing photography as a side hustle or a small business. Perhaps your partner doesn’t see the point in having photos taken every year, so maybe on the years in between, you opt for booking a quick mini session for less, just to have a couple of photos to document your family during this year.

            Once you’ve decided on your photographer, you’ll need to choose a date and time that will work for both you and the photographer. Look ahead at your family calendar and have a few dates available to work with your photographer’s availability, as well as any weather cancellations that may pop up. Also, consider what you would like your family to wear, as well as what background you would like this year. If you have in mind a wooded background with your family wearing cozy sweaters, plan your session when it’s cooler out so that your group is as comfortable as possible. The opposite is true too. If you envision summer dresses in front of a lake, plan accordingly or expect your children to smile while freezing. Once you’ve decided on an overall feel, check with your photographer about choosing a location. You can go with your photographer’s ideas or ask about some locations that mean something to you and your family or that you would like to display in your home. If your family loves to spend time at the lake, consider capturing that memory with your family in a photo. If you have had prairie backgrounds over the past few years, consider changing things up with an urban, downtown or wooded background. Stacy Marvin, mother of two and owner of Stacy Marvin Photography, says, “There are so many great backdrops in the Kansas City metro, from gorgeous trees, fields and even urban areas to get just the type of photos that you are looking for.”

After the date, location and overall idea are nailed down, it’s time to choose your family’s wardrobe—well in advance. Attire can be simple if you stick to a few solid colors and mix and match those few colors among your family members. Think about where you plan to display these photos and whether they will go well in your living room, for example.

Marvin says, “I always try to let my clients know that they should pick a couple of clothing colors that complement each other. Pinterest is a great place to look for ideas! Also, avoid any clothes with writing, as they distract from the people in the photograph!”

One of the biggest things to consider when scheduling a photo session is timing. Many photographers love golden hour shoots when the sun is setting and everything and everyone looks magical. But this isn’t always feasible with complicated work and kid schedules. Think ahead and know your family. If your partner is going to have to leave work early and fight traffic to be at a photo shoot he may not find as important as you, he might not be in the best mood, and that can affect the whole atmosphere of the session. Instead, consider everyone’s schedule and offer family members a few different options, so they can choose the one that will work best for them and ensure you have happy campers all around. As for kids, if you know your little one takes 30 minutes to become herself after naptime, don’t plan to whisk her from her dreams straight to a photoshoot with a stranger. If your children melt during witching hour, maybe golden hour light isn’t worth it this year. Plan on a pretty shaded area during the day. Likewise, if your child rises with the sun, early morning light can be very comparable to golden hour light. Run with it! Then everyone will be fresh, and maybe you can go out for breakfast afterwards to celebrate getting that checked off the list before eggs are served.

Speaking of that, rewards work wonders. Give your family some incentive to have their photos taken by planning on a special outing after the session. Whether it’s going out for dinner or ice cream or even getting the kids a happy meal at McDonald’s, a celebration can help make this an annual happy experience for your family. 

Another tip is to let the photographer do her job. A parent always wants the children to smile and to end up with that sought-after perfect picture, but trust your photographer. It’s her job. Your professional should know what she’s doing and will get some great shots if you trust the process. This means not yelling at your kids or family or standing behind jumping and being loud to get your kids to “look and smile!” These interventions create a stressful environment for all involved and can lead to fake smiles. Remember, if you asked for referrals and did your own research, you should feel confident in your choice of a photographer and should be able to trust that you will get what you planned for.

Also keep in mind that your attitude goes a long way and that others will feed off your outlook. I always say the parent in charge of getting everyone prepared for a photo session has the hardest job, so plan ahead as much as possible to keep scrambling to a minimum. Play some fun music, talk about your fun plans afterward and play along with the photographer. Many photographers like to use prompts and have you do random silly things to capture real smiles or because they see a shot that non-photographers might not. Trust them and enjoy the experience!

Finally, enjoy those photos! Order those holiday cards to showcase your beautiful family on festive greetings to your family and friends. But don’t stop there. Order new prints for your home and maybe even some gifts for family. Again, this is about capturing memories of and for your family because, sadly, this year only happens once, so embrace your family’s unique personality.

Stephanie Loux is the mother of Layla, 11, Mason, 9, and Slade, 6, as well as a photographer at SaLoux Photography. She has lots of experience with family photography and, even if she’s stressing about her kids and dogs for her own photos, it’s always worth it in the end.