How to plan your family photos
These photos are of me and my family, captured by my very good friend and wonderful photographer Christina McPherson.
I always have grand plans brewing in my head for my own family photos. Dozens of saved outfits I want to purchase, countless nearly-forgotten locations I snapped quick shots on my phone to ‘remember’ for future shoots, constant scouting for props that would help tell my family’s story. [And if I’m honest, telling myself I’ll book those family photos once I’ve lost the final baby weight.] We haven’t actually done family photos since my youngest was a newborn - and she’s about to turn 3. Cue the sad trombone noise.
We just returned from a family vacation in St. Croix. With all the planning and packing, I figured I could plan our family photos once we were there. Well, once we were there, things were even more chaotic than normal, and my ideas for the perfect photos seemed nearly impossible. I had to let go of what I wanted our photos to be and just capture us as we were.
Check out the unspoken communication on my husband’s face and my face!
Our 10 minute long/past bedtime/frustrated and overtired parents with outfits haphazardly thrown together photos ended up being amazing.
The moral of this story?
Get the photos taken. Done is better than perfect. Your kids will grow, you will age, and the ‘perfect picture’ ends up being the one that was taken. You and your family just as you are, perfectly imperfect, perfectly yourselves. This first photo really sums up some family dynamics, and while it’s not the wall piece, it’s 100% real. And in the end, we did end up with some traditional, happy family photos:
Yes, I will always mentally be planning the perfect session for us with the perfect outfits, professional hair and makeup to a t, but in the meantime, let go of what you want your photos to be and just let them unfold naturally. It doesn’t have to be that complicated. And if you’re really lucky, your child might become attached to the rubber rat squeaky toy that was meant to get her attention, and you end up with gems like this!
I know, you want your family photo to be real, but you also want everyone to be happy. And the tricky thing about family photos, and photos in general, is you never know which ones will mean the most to you until time has passed, and that moment is long gone. And sometimes the best images can never be planned. I took the image below immediately after we finished photos of myself and my husband; my kids were entertaining themselves, and they just happened to be in the PERFECT light.
The kids will fight, whether it’s with each other, getting into the clothing, the shoes, you name it; there will be bribing (of the kids and possibly your significant other!), but I can help with all of the aesthetics. Wardrobe, hair and makeup, location choices, time of day, etc. You just need to get everyone in their assigned clothes and show up; I wish I could do that part for you, but it’s the only thing I can’t!
If you are overwhelmed at the thought of family photos, reach out! Let me take the reigns so all you have to do is show up and be 100% yourselves.
Cheers,
Kristen
P.S. If my story struck a nerve for you, I’d love to hear any experiences you have had with family photos, or what’s stopping you from booking them. Or if there’s something I missed, let me know!