When fall hits in Minneapolis, family photo sessions are in swing. After doing family photos for nearly a decade I’ve decided to drop a little knowledge for anyone looking to have a speedy family photo session and ensure everyone looks their best. I also wanted to level set expectations for family photo sessions for anyone looking to schedule them for their family so they know what the norms are and that their family isn’t “bad at photos.” In fact, most of the clients I’ve photographed this year are not normally “photo” people. (as they would say).
Ok, so I’ll dive into my 5 tips for family photography from a photographers perspective.
- Try and find a time near sunset.
- I realize this can be tricky with younger children and meal times/nap times but the light near sunset is hard to replicate. If you can’t find a time during sunset the next best thing is to find a spot with a lot of shade or indirect light. Direct noon sun can cause squinty eyes and blown-out backgrounds.
- Make sure little kids have a snack or something to bribe them.
- It’s hard to keep little kids attention. Most young family shoots last somewhere between 15 minutes and 40 minutes. The kids are usually the determining factor. It’s fine and I work around it but I always try and let clients know that the kids might be the first to call the shoot. We get what we can and take breaks as needed.
- Wear nuetral colors.
- Blaze orange and graphic tees aren’t it. Creams, whites, and solid neutral colors are. Pick an outfit that has noncomplicated colors and compliments your skin tone rather than an outfit that steals the show.
- Come ready to have fun.
- A big part of getting smiling candids from people is having people ready to be genuinely happy. Something about a smiling person just looks so good. If you can bring a few things to laugh about, it will build your confidence and allow you to smile naturally so nothing feels forced. This is a family shoot, not a model shoot, you don’t need to look like Halle Berry you just need to look like you.
- Expect some playfulness.
- I have a few prompts where I’ll have you run around, toss a child, or tickle the person next to you. These are just to get a reaction from your face that’s natural or from the kids face that’s natural. Bring that fun energy to your family session and we’ll capture some magic moments.
Those are my 5 tips for family photography in minneapolis. If you are looking for a family photographer please inquire through my page and I’ll let you know about avaialbilty. If you’re looking for a studio session I can make that happen as well.
-Tim
Take a look at my last blog post about newborn photos here: LINK
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