HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FAMILY PHOTO SESSION — BOISE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
Step one is complete, booking the darn thing. Now what? Maybe your goal begins and ends with just getting your family there, or maybe you are the type of person that needs every detail mapped out. I think this is a good post to read for either type of person, and anyone in between. I really believe that the better prepared you and your family are, the more bang you will get for your buck. But rest easy mama, preparing shouldn’t be that hard…it might even be *gasp* fun.
GET THAT GLOW UP!
Before your session get your house in order a bit, and by your house I mean you. You should show up feeling confident! Sure, this is about the whole family, but really mama, you want to look at these images and be stoked - not wishing you had gotten your roots done or freshened up your chipped nail polish. Mom’s often forget about themselves, or put themselves last….Well, I hereby give you permish to make yourself the leading lady! You deserve this. You deserve to feel good, look good and to have some beautiful pictures taken of your family! Don’t scrimp on yourself. (Stepping off my soapbox now. Powering down my megaphone.)
PLAN WHAT YOU + YOUR FAMILY ARE GOING TO WEAR A FEW DAYS IN ADVANCE
I wrote a whole post dedicated to your photo session fashion…check it out HERE
Beyond what is written in that post, I also advise bringing an extra set of clothes for your little ones, just in case.
PREPARE YOUR KIDDOS (+ HUBBY) THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION
A lot of photo sessions take place in the evening to accommodate that big old ball of fire in the sky. If that’s the case for your session, plan accordingly. If your kids are still napping age, have them take a later nap that day. Make sure everyone is well-fed + hydrated and bring some non-messy snacks + water with you. Tell your kiddos (and husband) what to expect at the session, which you can find out from your photographer. For example, my sessions tend to last about an hour. I capture the money shots first and then I let things kind of unfold organically, depending on the family. We might play in the water, dance around, or simply go for a walk. I keep my sessions laid-back and natural. Let your kids know that a friend will be joining you and taking pictures, that way they aren’t taken by surprise. This is especially important if they are shy by nature.
BONUS MATERIAL: Often times, husbands are not the most enthusiastic about family photos, but letting them know it will only take an hour or so makes it seem more manageable. They can do anything for an hour, right?? ;)
To sum up, you want to set your family up for success.
SHOW YOUR YOUNG KIDS WHAT TO EXPECT
Most kids I know looovvvve to see photos of themselves. Before your session, show them some fun pictures you’ve taken of them and let them know that they are going to get more like that. It’s such a simple thing but it can get them excited about the session if they know it’s about them.
KEEP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE LOOP
If you plan on bringing any special props, or special four legged family members, let your photographer know beforehand, it might influence your shooting location.
MAKE A FUN PLAN FOR AFTER THE SESSION
Give your family something extra to look forward to after the session is over. This can be simple like having a pizza and ice cream party while watching a family favorite movie. Or maybe you take a private jet to Disneyland….I don’t know. Pizza and ice cream will probably do the trick though.
Okay! That’s all I've got for you, pretty simple stuff, right? Preparing yourself and your family will bring you one step closer to having that stress-free photo session you want and DESERVE. The photos you get at the end will be worth it! Even your husband will think so.
