Family photos can be stressful and chaotic, especially with small children. Here are some tips that we have learned along the way.
- Find a photographer who is a good fit for you and your family. Look at their website – are the examples they have the types of pics you are looking for? If you have kids, do they commonly work with kids? Do they do more studio photos or onsite/candid photos? What is the photographer’s personality like? Laid back? Do you know people who know the photographer? What was their experience like?
We were very fortunate to find a very laid-back photographer with a keen eye for detail and incredible patience (thank you, Kelly Lovan! http://kellylovanphotography.com). This was key for us because with so many young kids (when the triplets were 1yr and our son was 4yrs old, for example), family pictures were incredibly stressful. Yet, Kelly has a very calming personality and never rushed anything. She made the sessions as stress-free as possible.
- Think and plan ahead of time if you are looking for something specific. If you don’t have a plan, you will be at the mercy of the photographer and/or chance. Are there specific shots you want? Certain people in certain pictures? Look at examples online for ideas. But, bottom line, you don’t want to be in the throes of a busy and often stress-filled photo session and be asked – “Are there any photos you want in particular?” – and then try to think of what you really want. Your mind will be reeling with overload in the moment. Set yourself up for success and talk to the photographer ahead of time about any specifics. You will probably want to get those first – before anyone starts falling apart!
When our son was little, we liked to get one photo every time of my husband tossing him in the air. It’s fun to look back and see how he grew each year. More on ideas for family photos coming soon!
- Think about the ages of your kids when planning photos. Are there certain photos you would want at this age? What is doable and can be reasonably expected for their age?
- Time the photos to optimize your kids’ behavior. Ha, always easier said than done! For outdoor photos, photographers often want them done early in the morning or around sunset. When is best for your child – are they morning people? Or, night owls? For indoor photos, when are your kids at their best? I would definitely try to avoid scheduling near nap time or meal time. Nothing good happens when people are tired and hungry.
We have found having food on hand and music at the ready to be helpful and ease tension. Have some of the family’s favorite songs on your phone and ready to play.
- Identicals tip: arrange the kids in the same order for photos. I wish I could say I’m great about always printing out and labeling all of our photos, but this is not the case. We try to always have the girls in the same order (in their birth order) for all pictures (both professional photos and everyday pics). This way, when we look back at photos, we will always know who is who, even if it isn’t yet labeled and in an album.
I often say that I may not remember the first few years after the triplets were born because it has been so hectic, but at least I will have photos. I’m always happy afterwards that we went through the stress and chaos to get photos done. These tips have helped us maintain our sanity along the way. Say cheese!
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