Common Mistakes for Family Sessions | Annapolis MD Family Photographer
Planning and executing family sessions can feel overwhelming for families if they aren’t prepared or don’t know what to expect. As a Maryland family photographer, there are some common things that I see during family sessions that can make our time together trickier. Today, I wanted to share these common mistakes for family sessions so that you can avoid them and have a stress-free photo session!
Hanger
Make sure you have a meal or heavy snacks before a session. No one is happy when they’re hungry, trust me. Pro Tip: If you do meals in the car on the way to your session, be sure to bring a change of clothes to change after you arrive just in case something happens. Buffer a few minutes to get everyone changed into their photo outfits!
Too busy the day of your session
I am a busy parent and a typical Saturday can look like a dance class, lunch, birthday party, visit relatives, shopping, catching up and so much more. Having a photography session after a busy day can not only prevent everyone from being all-in but it can result in fatigue. If you have a photography session in the evening, have one more event and then allow plenty of down-time before the session (if that’s even necessary). I know that sometimes it’s inevitable with everyone’s schedules, but try to make the day leading up to your photos relaxing.
Rewards for photos
We have all been there: begging our kids to cooperate with rewards and bribes. The issue with this is that instead of having an experience and enjoying time as a family, your kiddos will want instant gratification. I will admit that for mini sessions, I do sometimes start with a bribe because it is a short amount of time till the little reward. But, let me handle the bribing – you don’t need to worry about it. I use a lot of natural rewards during the session like “If you sit with mommy and snuggle, I’m going to have daddy shake his butt really funny.” It keeps all of us engaged in the session and allows us to capture some more natural moments.
Both partners or extended family not understanding my style of photography.
When people think of family photography, sometimes the first thing in their mind is studio posed portraits. That is worlds away from my style. Make sure everyone understands that during most of the session, eyes are not on my camera. Instead, I want to capture your natural interactions – so it’s way less formal than you might think. Chat with your partner and kids to share what to expect (you can find more details about that here!).
Last minute outfit choices.
Choosing images at the last minute means that someone’s not going to LOVE what they’re wearing. It’s just a fact.. Set a goal to start outfit shopping a month prior to your session so you can be sure you love everything (and it arrives on time!). Utilize my Style & Select service and set up a time to FaceTime with me to go through my client closet. I offer this service so that you feel and look great – and there’s no last minute stress shopping.
Worried about trying to remember all of these tips? All of my clients get a prep guide with these reminders before their session. I’m seriously here to help you create a stress-free experience as a family! You can share it with your partner to work through it together. I always think that’s a great way to approach planning. Finally, don’t forget that lifestyle sessions at home can also make your photos even less stressful, too!
PLANNING FAMILY PORTRAITS? FIND TIPS HERE!
What to Wear for Family Portraits – Client Closet
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Christina did an amazing job with our family photos. From the first time we spoke--she was incredibly thoughtful, organized and detail oriented to ensure the session would be a success.. – Katie A.
