Getting Ready for Your Family Portrait Session: Victoria BC Professional Photographer

Believe it or not, professional photographers know that having your picture taken can feel like a lot of work. I’ve photographed hundreds of families since Erin Clayton Photography first became a business and I would be fibbing if I told you that family portraits are stress-free. But with the right amount of planning and prep, your session will be a fun, joy-filled session, I promise!

Today I want to share my top tips for rocking your family photo session.

Outfits

I always recommend planning your outfits well in advance and ensuring that everyone’s clothes are comfortable and attractive. Opt for complementary colours (without being matchy, matchy). See more what to wear tips to help you with outfit planning from this recent blog post.

Get Lots of Rest and Be Well Fed

The best time for light is two hours before sunset and after sunrise, but I always encourage clients to ensure that nap time/bedtime for your kids is a priority over perfect light. If a sunset or early morning session does not work for your schedule, we’ll choose a location that has perfect light at other times of day.

Everyone will be happier for their family photo session if they are well fed. Make sure to eat before your session and pack some light, mess-free snacks and drinks for your little ones for the car ride to your session or to eat when your session is over.

Leave Lots of Time for Getting Ready

Make sure you have lots of time to fit in a nap for your little ones, with time to spare for baths/showers, getting dressed and hair and makeup. This way you’ll arrive at your session relaxed and ready to go without having felt rushed.

Dads Participate

I know that some dads can feel a sense of dread at the thought of their family photo session, but remember that the images you’re creating at your family session will be treasured by your children for years to come and shared with their own family someday. By going to your family photo session with an open mind and seeing the amazing memories you created from the experience, you’ll be so happy that you participated.

Have Fun With Your Family

Forget about getting the perfect shot; let your photographer worry about that. Make this experience about each other, togetherness, and the memories these images will bring back to you years from now. Enjoy your (relatively) uninterrupted time together as a family. Relax! The picture that ends up being your favourite may not be the one you have in your mind at the time. Have fun during your session and your photos will reflect that fun. Remember, if you’re relaxed, your family will be relaxed.

Cheese is For Crackers

When parents tell their kids to, “Say cheese” when standing behind the photographer, it can create a loss of connection between the photographer and their children and ultimately create strained, and unnatural photographs. I like to use natural interaction and jokes to speak with kids to evoke genuine, gorgeous smiles and expressions.

Help your photographer capture your child’s true personality by talking with your children and encouraging their natural smiles.

More Tips

What to Wear (and Not Wear for Family Photos)

Why You Should Include Your Pets in Your Family Photos

Erin Clayton Photography is a family and children’s portrait photographer based in Langford, BC and serves Victoria, BC (Vancouver Island) and surrounding communities.

You can see more of Erin Clayton Photography’s family work here.

Interested in a Family Photography session with me? Contact me and I’ll get in touch soon!