I have the most wonderful clients in the world! I would say 90% of the time our family sessions are smooth as silk, but occasionally we encounter blips that throw the session off just a bit. After years of photographing many different types of families I can tell you that these blips are very common and almost always avoidable. With family portrait season on the horizon and because I love you I’m going to share the most common family portrait mistakes I encounter and how you can avoid them..jpg)
1. Not Coordinating Your Wardrobe.
There are two ways this can go bad. Either everyone is dressed exactly alike or not alike enough. When everyone wears the exact same outfit (like black shirts and jeans, for example) it gives the portrait more of a corporate retreat or summer camp look. Your family is made up of individuals with unique personalities. Let those personalities shine through! BUT, make sure everyone is wearing the same style of clothing. Stick to casual or dressy or even dressy/casual but mixing them creates confusion and makes you look less like a family and more like a group of people who bumped into each other on the street. For more help on selecting a wardrobe, see my post What to Wear for Family Portraits (4 Simple Steps).
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2. Arriving Late
My family portrait sessions are done almost exclusively outdoors, which means I am at the mercy of the sun. (Aren’t we all? Also, “Mercy of the Sun” was the name of my first solo album.) I schedule my sessions in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is most flattering. The sun sets much earlier in the fall and winter, so if getting work off early isn’t an option you may need to schedule a Saturday shoot. AND you won’t be flustered and sweaty from trying to rush. Everyone wins!
.jpg "Young siblings during family portraits at Papago Park in Phoenix, AZ.")
3. Thinking Your Children are Demons
Your children are not demons. Dressing up in clothes you may not be used to and being told to stand there and stay clean and look pretty is not every child’s idea of a good time. That’s okay. Try to set some expectations with your kids about what will happen on the shoot and plan some kind of reward. Then sit yourself down and do the same thing. Even the best kids can lose their ever-loving minds during a portrait session. Keep calm and trust your photographer.
.jpg "Family of five with teens in Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, AZ.")
4. Pointing at the Camera
During the portrait session you may be tempted to get your child to look at the photographer by pointing at the camera. Please don’t. Now there are two people ruining the picture. It’s the photographer’s job to get everyone’s attention. Usually if I can get at least one good shot of a baby or toddler looking at the camera, I can swap them into another picture if need be. A grown up with a surprised expression pointing at the camera is much harder to fix. Please don’t.
5. Not Printing Your Portraits
So many times clients will go through the process of hiring a photographer, coordinating a wardrobe, bribing their darling children, and spending their time and money on portraits they will treasure forever . . . but those portraits remain on their computer for months and months. My portrait packages all include a printed product (prints, albums, canvases) for this very reason. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste! Print your portraits! (Wondering if it matters where you print them? Check out my post Does It Matter Where You Print Your Photos?)
.jpg "Family photographed in Pistachio orchard.")
5. Not Securing Your Photographer in Advance
Fall is the busiest time of year for family photographers and most of us are booked months in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute to secure your ideal photographer or you may miss out on getting the portraits you really want. Click the contact button above and claim your date today!
