Thanks to the cold, I’ve entered the slow season. Like the summer months in Mississippi, you don’t see too many people venturing outside. So while I wait things out, I thought I’d share a few photography tips for families and group sessions.
If your bored like me, it’s never a bad idea to prepare for life in the spring! So grab yourself some hot cocoa and let me know if you have any questions!
1. To Match or Not to Match..
Of course, one of the first things I thought of was the daunting question: WHAT TO WEAR? Aside from hair and makeup (for us ladies), attire is surely a topic of interest leading up to a photo shoot with the fam. In fact, it takes some serious self control for me not to buy everyone matching outfits when my family prepares to take pictures. I know I’m not the only one!
To some, matching outfits are a must – or even a tradition. This is especially true during the holidays. Even so, it’s not uncommon to see groups wearing identical shirts or some sort of theme. While coordinating outfits may be cute, it can limit everyone’s personality. In other words, matching isn’t always necessary. Photography tips for families won’t help you if people have wardrobe grievances.
How to Subtly Match in Photos.
I always encourage my clients to think outside the box and try something new from time to time. When you think about it, getting everyone there and smiling is a tall task on its own. Getting caught up in appearance can take away from the excitement and joy of taking pictures! When push comes to shove, blending colors works just as well.
One of the best ways to coordinate outfits is to work off a color pallet. You can easily find one online and locate some color combinations that everyone likes. This in itself can be a good way to involve everyone in the process while spending some quality time together. Participation helps the shoot go a lot smoother. So take some initiative and ask!
Coordination Begins with Cooperation.
When it’s all said and done, working in unison makes it fun. It also turns out some great pictures – whether everyone is matching or not! As you can see in the photo above, different colors didn’t mess up the flow at all! I loved how the accents in mom’s scarf matched dad’s peach shirt! “Bright shirts and jeans” was all that was on the memo. Sometimes, less is more and the little subtleties are enough.
In my opinion, one of the best photography tips for families is to always best to find a way to mesh personalities together. Asking someone to tone down their appearance is fine – but there’s no need to cramp anyone’s style. Bending a little to meet family members or relatives in the middle will help you all enjoy the occasion.
2. Be Certain About Your Location.
Who wants to hop on a plane and travel somewhere exotic, tropical, or historic for the ultimate family photo?! Unfortunately, not many of us have that capability. But that’s OK! The Midsouth is full of unique little pockets worth posing in front of. All you have to do is look! The landscape is beautiful in North Mississippi. There is plenty of culture in Memphis and Nashville is only a couple hours away!
Instead of waiting until the last minute, organize a few locations, places and settings that suit your group the best. It’s one of the best photography tips for families I can give you! Waiting until the last minute or or for a photographer’s recommendation usually adds unnecessary stress to the equation. A plan is always better than no plan!
On-Site Photography Tips for Families.
Back in my desert days, I used to love going to this historic district called Sahuaro Ranch. The country-like settings and old farming machinery made photo shoots a lot of fun. Now that we live in Olive Branch, natural settings like this are everywhere! It’s great! However you go about choosing a location, try to find a place that has a lot of character and an array of scenery (or backdrops). This gives you options in case something doesn’t turn out like you planned.
Historic buildings, open spaces and even park forests usually work just fine. In some cases, too much scenery can be distracting. So be open to discussing this with your photographer beforehand. Either way, choosing your family photo location is all dependent on the type of photos you’re looking for. If you have kids, it’s a good idea to pick a safe, spacious spot that doesn’t makes them feel confined.
3. Have a Gameplan, Parents.
I’d be remiss if my photography tips for families and groups didn’t include the management of children the day of the shoot. As a parent of 6, I’ve learned to never overlook the details a simple occasion – especially when it comes to pictures. Photographing kids together is usually more of a challenge than we’d like to think. So take some time to mentally prepare beforehand and set the expectation.
If your kids are anything like mine, the loving sibling moments rarely last long. As you plan out your session, try to set aside some time that can be all about the kiddos. The sooner we get their shots out of the way, so they can roam free, the better.
Additional Tips for Families with Kids.
Do your best to walk through a few potential situations that may waste time. Ask yourself how you plan on getting through the session if behavior or shyness is a problem. What will you do about complaints, bickering and snickering? You may think you’ve got it under control, but things change when a camera is involved. Luckily for me, I have plenty of experience. But not every photographer does.
Sometimes, allowing children to scope out the area gives me a chance to capture precious moments of them exploring. The goal is to capture siblings getting along and a family that loves each other. Thinking things through and being prepared is one of the most underrated photography tips for families.
4. Meaningful Props Always Pop.
How Can Families Personalize their Photos?
Having every member bring a prop or personal memento is rarely a bad idea. In most cases, you know what accents your family the best (without overdoing it). I’ve choreographed multiple shoots that have involved big and small objects. I once used tractors and old barn doors in a shoot for an extended family. We had a blast reinventing a few childhood memories before highlighting the group’s future generations.
Obviously, props like these take a little bit of planning. So if you have some big ideas, make sure you’re communicating them beforehand. Smaller items, like stuffed animals, shouldn’t be a big deal. Asking everyone what they’d like to incorporate is another way of getting them involved in the planning.
Photography for Families Near Memphis.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review my photography tips for families and groups! I hope that I have helped ease the decision making process for your next photo session together. If you’re looking for a photographer in the Memphis area, let me know. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s ever a way I can help!
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