As a photographer I've shot a number of different styles, occasions, settings... You get the point. My favorite are babies, children (young and old), and families! I LOVE family sessions! Especially families with small children... They are always so entertaining and fun to capture!
Before each family session I always tell my family to arrive early so the kids can get some play out and for us to talk about the style shoot they want; natural, casual, playful, posed. I think photos turn out the best when things are natural. You obviously need to pose a few, here and there to make sure that you have one of the kids without their tongues hanging out of their mouths, but natural is beautiful.
Here are a few tips for families or couples or older kids or whoever for when you go to have your photos made professionally!
1. Find a photographer you trust and understands your style
You need to have a photographer that you get along with and that you click with, if you know what I mean. I have worked with clients before where we haven't clicked and you can clearly see it in the photos I took, unfortunately. But it really does come across film, if you and your photographer don't mesh well then your photos are likely to not turn out as you had hoped for.
You need to ensure that your photographer understands they style of photos that you want and doesn't try to push you into doing something that you don't want for your pictures. Just because you're shelling out a few hundred dollars on this one amazing photographer, doesn't mean your going to get amazing photos. The amazing photos that you see are from photographer-client relationships that click!
Once you do find that one photographer that you just love, the one that you feel you could sit with over coffee and just talk with, keep them! They'll appreciate the return booking and you'll develop a true relationship with them over the years.
2. Look your thinnest by wearing dark clothing, heels, angle your body, and use good posture
THIS is super important for us women who want to look great in our photos! I can't tell you how many times I've taken photos of people who don't think about this ahead of time. You hear all the time that black is slimming, yet nobody wears it for photos of themselves. Now, I don't mean to wear your funeral outfit for your family photos, but don't wear bright pink either. Wear colors that compliment you in darker hues, like mauve, hunter green, burnt orange, maroon... Everybody has at least one color that they look stunning in, find that color in a dark shade and choose that for your photos next time! And if your taking fall/winter photos then layer and look completely glamorous in a tweed jacket or pee coat over your dark and fabulous clothes!
Ladies, always try and wear a heel to photo shoots! They make you look taller and legs longer and they accentuate your body nicely. If you're having to walk a lot, then bring some flats to change into while not photographing... We, photographers, don't care. We aren't here to judge you, and we probably already do this for our own photos! It's also really important to know your body and how it looks in various angles. If you need to you could probably ask your photographer to take a few of you in different angles to determine which is best for you and then use that angle to pose yourself appropriately and look great in all your pictures!
3. Wear your makeup heavier
It’s so important to wear
enough makeup on your face when you take pictures. If you don’t wear a
lot of makeup, make sure you have enough color on your lips, cheeks, and
eyes at least.
Some other thoughts: Apply
makeup in natural light, avoid shimmery or glittery makeup, go for more
matte, apply a second or third coat of mascara, line the eyes of
eyeliner, and don’t forget to put on extra blush and a colored lipstick
or gloss.
I always keep my lipstick/gloss with me for my own photos to touch up while I'm not in the pictures.
4. Don’t match, coordinate
Everyone always wants everyone matching, or the children matching. That's cute and all, but it doesn't look natural. Try finding one great outfit from one family member and coordinating the colors to that one outfit. We talked earlier about darker colors. So, if you have this amazing dark red dress you want to wear try making the family member's outfits are red and black or something. They don't all have to be the same shade of blue and have white accents to them, they just need to look nice together.
If the outfit thing doesn't work then try finding some of the best pieces from all your families clothes and then seeing which ones look best with each other.
Hope these help for the next time you go to have your photos made!
Best!
- Stephanie
