Every now and then, I am asked to shoot family portraits. In this case, I was lucky because the family I photographed had a great property with lots of outdoor space and locations to choose from. Their son was also a professional model and shared tips and tricks with his family to make them look natural in front of the camera.
But what if you don’t have a big gorgeous backyard at your disposal or a family of models? Read on to learn my top 5 tips on making the most of your family portrait session.
1) Co-ordinate your outfits with your family members
Choosing similar or complimentary colours, texture, and style of clothing will ensure you all look presentable and snazzy in your pictures that you will look at for years to come. Make sure everyone irons or steams their outfits because wrinkles are no fun and wrinkle-free clothes can make a BIG difference - trust me on this one.
2) Come Prepared
Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before the photoshoot. If you’re well rested, you’ll likely be in a better mood than if you were to stay up all night partying and drinking the night before. Take a bubble bath, put on your favourite face mask, and get plenty of rest. Make sure everyone knows when to show up, brings their best self, and acts natural. Most people tell me they’re uncomfortable in front of the camera, and I don’t blame them. That being said, it’s the photographer’s job to make you comfortable, but what I find also helps is if my subjects are interacting with each other by telling each other jokes or sharing funny, heartwarming stories to make each other laugh. You can tell when someone is forcing a smile in a photo and those are not the kind of memories you want to have, so try not to think too much about the camera being there, and focus on breathing, staying calm, and don’t be afraid to get silly!
3) Do Your Research Before You Hire
This should go without saying, but make sure to do your research before hiring a photographer. Many people choose based on price only and this is a big mistake. You want to be sure that your style matches the style of the photographer’s work - you might like bright, airy, happy photos or the complete opposite - dark, moody, black and white photos. Look through a few different photographer’s portfolio websites and pick the one who’s work speaks to you the most and that way you know what to expect from the final photos. Remember, you get what you pay for, so don’t cheap out!
4) Get Creative With Backgrounds
The photographer should come prepared with a list of ideas of how they will shoot your portraits, but if he or she has never been to your home/backyard/space before, they may not know of all the gems and cool locations that can be utilized as pretty background for picture taking. During the family portrait session I did below, I first walked around the property, having one of the family members show me around and look for ideal spots and backgrounds that would work for their portraits. Camera in hand, I snapped quick photos of all the possible places that would make for beautiful, fitting backgrounds. What we ended up with is a variety of trees combined with sunset flares, porch with their house in the background, and outdoor seating area with a cozy fire.
5) Bonus: Hire a Pro Make-up and Hair Stylist
Of course not everyone will be able to afford to hire and pay for an additional price for a make-up artist and/or hair stylist, but if you have the means, this can go a long way. Having worked with many pro make-up and hair stylists, I can tell the difference having professional make-up touch ups from an amateur doing it themselves. A professional knows exactly how to enhance your best features and how much make-up to apply so it shows up nicely on the camera.
Below are examples of my family portrait session with the Chandler family. It was a real pleasure shooting with them on a gorgeous summer day on their lovely property. I hope these tips were helpful and you’re equipped with the know-how when it comes to booking your next family or just a regular portrait shoot!
