Family Photos Tips

Before you read this, please know that I am sharing these tips for taking family photos to ultimately encourage you to do family photos. I am no expert, but we have had them done enough to share some insight for your next session. People may think we are crazy for how many family photo sessions we have done, but in 20 years when I am looking back, I am going to be SO thankful for each and every time we had photos. When we just look back from all the photos we have had taken over our 8 years of marriage, it is amazing how you can reminnance and remember where you were in life at that time, the good and the bad. Photos are important and I hope that through this post, I can encourage you take the leap to schedule photos or help with your upcoming session. Because, we all know that photos with children is no easy task.

Make them Fun!

When it comes to taking photos with children, incorporating things they like to do helps them to just be natural and playful. I know for Adelyn she LOVES to have picnics and if we would let her, should would for every meal. So taking a picnic for our family photos was genius because she just smiled the whole time. And Emery is just happy if she has food in her hands, so it was a win-win. Fishing was another idea we had for photos because she loves to go fishing with her Dad. It made for some great photos of them together doing one of their favorite things. Other ideas would be to fly a kite, take a baseball and mit, go to the park/playground, play in the water at a lake or river, get ice cream, or even just explore somewhere new together.

Let them Go

I mean don’t let your children run away, but give them some space to run and have fun. They make for the best photos when they can just be a kid. My girls love to run and explore, and having these photos of them doing so, will make the best keepsakes. If your child is having a hard time staying in one place and continuing to run away, make it a game. “Red Light, Green Light” anyone?? I think that is what we were playing with Adelyn in the photo below which allows them to run but still have boundaries. “Ring around the Rosy” or “Peekaboo” are also great games to play that look okay in photos as well! If that still does not work, put them on your back or shoulders! (See example below)

Pinterest

I found so many family photos I loved on Pinterest before our family photo session, but also knew that copying an exact photo can only lead to the possibility of a Pinterest fail…SO I took a couple ideas I liked and made them our own. I told our photographer what I was kind of thinking and then we just went for it in our own way that was comfortable for our family. Cue the photo below. I saw a photo on Pinterest with a kiss and a child on the Daddy’s shoulders. I wanted this photo but with both of my girls, so one on the back and one on the shoulders made for a great photo and the opportunity to sneak a kiss.Pinterest is great to look at before you go to give you and the photographer a feel for what you are going for, just remember to make it your own.

Crying Kids

Yep, we have all been there. Actually, I don’t think we have ever had our photos done without a crying or whining kid. I have found two things that work for us. A little toss in the air turns that frown upside down and snacks. Don’t forget the snacks. Garth and I will always go into photos with our pockets full of fruit snacks or something that they will cooperate for.

Bloopers

Some of my photos are the outtakes. I believe Adelyn was pretending to bite my arm in the photo above and below Emery did not want me to hold her. Laugh and have fun with whatever happens because the outtakes may be a few favorites for you as well.

Kisses

Kissing our kids make for the sweetest photos as well. I think at times we get to our family photo sessions and aren’t quite sure where to stand, how to act/pose, but stealing a kiss always photographs so well. It makes things more comfortable and less awkward.

And of course don’t forget to get photos of just the two of you. The photo below is one of my absolute favorites of Garth and I. You can’t see, but we have kids crying and whining at our feet. It’s easy to just worry about getting nice photos of your kids the whole time, and forget to get one of just the two of you. It’s important and I guarantee it will be one of your favorites from your session.

I hope some of these tips can help ease any nerves or encourage you for your next family photo session. I have learned to go into photos as relaxed as you can be. The less anxious you are, the less your kids will be. They can pick up how you are feeling so go into them with an open mind, positivity, and joy. “Life is short, time is fast. No replay, no rewind. So enjoy every moment as it comes…”

Photos by: Griffith Imaging & Liz Osban Photography