Why You Should Take Yearly Family Portraits | New Jersey Photographer
How many times have you wanted to take a family photo, maybe for your Christmas cards, and then simply been too busy? Life gets hectic, and you find you don’t have time to wrangle everyone and get them to sit down for a proper photo. Here are a few reasons why you should schedule a yearly family photo!
How many times have you wanted to take a family photo, maybe for your Christmas cards, and then simply been too busy? Life gets hectic, and you find you don’t have time to wrangle everyone and get them to sit down for a proper photo. Or maybe you have bunches of photos of your children, but none with both you and your spouse in them because one of you is always taking the pictures.
This is where a professional family photo shoot is a great idea. Instead of worrying about getting everyone together, taking the photos yourself, and getting them printed, you can let a professional do all that for you, providing you with memories to cherish for the rest of your life. They also will edit your photos and arrange for them to be printed, so you know you’re getting the best quality images of your family.
Capture changes in your family.
From first steps to braces to high school, as your kids grow up, you don’t want to miss a moment. Having an annual family photo taken allows you to document all the changes in your family, whether it’s a new addition or a rapidly growing child. Professional family photos will be something you and your children can look back on for years to come.
Create art for your home.
What better way to decorate your home or office than with beautiful photos of the ones you love? You may have plenty of photos of your kids snapped on your cell phone and even some selfies of the whole family, but those are hardly the kind of pictures you want blown up on canvas and hanging above the fireplace. A professional family photo shoot helps you ensure that everyone will be in the photo, looking their best. Don’t have wall space? There are many wonderful options on photo books and albums for your coffee table!
Start a tradition.
Whether you grew up taking family photos or not, it’s a great tradition to start with your family. One day your grandchildren and maybe even their children will look back on your family photos, so it’s important to have quality, professional images for future generations to enjoy. And once you start the tradition of taking family photos each year, your children can continue it when they have families of their own.
Share with friends and family.
Each year I love getting holiday cards from friends and relatives that have photos in them. I look forward to seeing how they look and how much their children have grown. Don't you think your friends and family would love to see a great portrait of you and your family?
Eliminate the stress of taking your own photos.
Professional photographers will give you guidelines about the best way to be prepared for your family photo session. Having someone else handle the details will take the stress off of you!
The next time you’re thinking about how much you need an updated family photo, consider scheduling a session with a professional photographer—and make it a tradition that your family can enjoy for years to come.
How to Prepare for Your Family Photo Session | New Jersey Photographer
A family photo session can be a nerve-wracking experience for any parent, but the results are well worth the effort. To help you feel a little less stressed about getting everyone dressed and smiling, here’s a handy guide on how to prepare for and make the most of your family session.
Family photos hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts. These are images we’ll look back on for years to come, images that our children and grandchildren will look at to remind themselves of where they came from and how much their family has changed and grown.
Tracking your family’s growth is a great reason to take annual family photos. But once you’ve booked your session, you may be feeling some trepidation:
How am I going to get all the kids to behave?
What should everyone wear?
What if our pictures turn out terrible because no one will cooperate?
A family photo session can be a nerve-wracking experience for any parent, but the results are well worth the effort. To help you feel a little less stressed about getting everyone dressed and smiling, this handy guide will help you prepare for and make the most of your family session!
Preparing for Your Session
Schedule at the right time of day
When it comes to photographing young children, scheduling is everything. You don’t want to schedule a photo shoot right in the middle of naptime and end up with a cranky toddler. In the same way, if your session runs over into dinnertime, your little one may throw a tantrum. Even if you want “golden hour” images, consider your kids and what time of day they’re most alert, awake, and content. It’s better to have your photos taken in the middle of the day than to struggle with frustrated, grumpy children just to get that gorgeous evening light.
Talk to your kids beforehand
A photo session is not something you want to drag your kids to without warning them. Take time to sit your kids down and explain what they can expect at the family session and how they should behave. Emphasize the fun aspects of a photo shoot: They can pretend to be models and even ham it up a little for the camera. Just remind them the importance of listening to you and the photographer and following instructions.
Get inspired
Think about what kind of images you want and talk to your photographer about your options. Would you prefer a studio session or one outside at a favorite park or spot in your town? Maybe you want an in-home session where the photographer can capture your family in their natural environment. Whatever you choose, be sure to speak with your photographer beforehand about what you’re hoping to achieve, as well as any special requirements you or your family may need.
Choose what to wear
While kids definitely look adorable in their dressiest outfits, you’re better off choosing something they’re comfortable in. That goes for your whole family, including you. Everyone will feel more like themselves in their favorite outfits. Just be sure everyone coordinates well and avoid bright colors or patterns that can be distracting.
The Day of Your Session
Pack your bag
If you have kids, you’re familiar with how much stuff you need to bring along with you when you go places, and a family photo session is no different. Here are some items we recommend you pack for your photo shoot:
An old blanket to sit on - perfect for cozy outside images
Backup outfits - You never know when someone will get a little messy!
Lint roller - This is a must if you’re including pets in the session
Favorite toys - A great way to keep little ones happy
Snacks and water - Nothing boosts a kid’s mood quite like a favorite snack! Just go for something that isn’t too messy
Tissues - As a parent, you probably always have these on hand, but you’ll need them to wipe messy noses
Keep an eye out for illness
If you or one of your children comes down with the flu the day of your session, talk to us about rescheduling. These things happen, and we’re more than happy to work with you to find a better time to capture your family photos.
UPDATE 2020: Because of COVID-19 concerns, the session will be cancelled if anyone in your party arrives showing symptoms. While we are vaccinated, we will not take the chance of passing it on to someone who may not be. Non-refundable deposits will not be used towards a future date and the session will need to be re-booked.
Remove any unnecessary items
Before your photographer starts snapping pictures, be sure to take any keys, phones, or wallets out of pockets and remove any hair ties or Fitbits from your wrists. All these items can be tucked away into your bag, so you know exactly where they are and don’t have to stress about searching for your keys later.
Make a day of it
While your actual session may only take a few hours, it’s a good idea to make the day a relaxing one. That means no additional activities for the kids (unless you want to take everyone out for a treat after the session) and no work for you. Just spend a relaxing day at home before and after your session.
Give yourself plenty of time
Instead of rushing out the door 15 minutes later than expected, get everyone ready early and give yourself at least 30 minutes to get to your session location. You may even want to look at traffic reports and give yourself even more time if necessary. If you’re in a rush, you’ll feel stressed and anxious, and that’s no way to start a family photo shoot! Be sure to give yourself plenty of breathing room so you can arrive comfortably early to your session.
Stay calm
I know, it’s easier said than done. But if you’re stressed out, your kids will sense it, and suddenly everyone is having a not-fun time. Besides, genuine smiles look so much better than forced ones, and you want your family photos to capture your authentic joy and personalities!