Family Photos
Some photography that I do other than weddings is portraits and family photos. I really love this genre, because it’s less pressure oriented than a wedding. Weddings are absolutely time driven, until you get to the reception. For a portrait shoot however, the main time constraint is the start time. After that, it’s just a fun time until we get the shots we need.
I feel the main thing is finding a location that allows for us to walk around and have different sub-locations. For me, having variety is what makes a location great. It would be extremely boring to be stuck in the same spot for an hour, or however long the session is for. This way, you have multiple different looks to the photos. It also allows you to stretch your legs a little bit as you walk from place to place. This gives you a chance to get to know your clients a little better and if they’re not used to being photographed, it gives them a chance to reset and get a little more comfortable. This is usually with little kids whose parents are bringing them out for family shoots. In general, they aren’t always comfortable with strangers or in front of a camera. The kids are usually much more open and at ease by the end of the shoot. It’s all about giving them a little time to get comfortable and have fun.
Prior to the shoot, I will call the client and get to know them a little bit, while also asking what they are looking for from the shoot and if they have any particular poses that they specifically want. A lot of times, they just know that they want some great photos of their family, but they don’t really have much experience. That’s where my experience comes in. I’ll let them know how I work. I give them a general idea of how the shoot will go. I always appreciate their trust in my experience.
A lot of times, they will ask me what to wear. I recommend to them that they wear something that makes them feel comfortable. Sometimes, depending on the weather, I would recommend layers that will allow for different looks. For example, if you wear a sweater with a polo shirt underneath, we can shoot with the sweater, then take the sweater off and you have a nice polo or button down shirt for a different look. The main thing I warn about is to be careful about super trendy clothing. If it’s super trendy today, it may be super dated in six months.
During the shoot, I like to rotate through a bunch of different poses and groupings. I always go back to what my mom wanted from family shoots when we were kids. Getting individual shots of everyone, shots of just the kids together, shots of the parents together, then mom with the kids and then dad with the kids. This is important for me, because when they get the gallery, I want them to have a lot of variety and to feel like they really got their money’s worth during the shoot. The client feeling they got their money’s worth is what is really important to me.
These shoots are always a lot of fun and more laid back than a wedding. As we finish with winter and roll into spring, I look forward to scheduling and having fun with more of these shoots.