You and your family have scheduled a session. You are super excited to have your memories captured in digital forever-ness (Yes, I made that up) and now the day has come. You pull out the khaki pants and white polos ready to face the lens. Your session is scheduled for 4 pm so you spend the majority of the morning primping yourself, dressing your children, and scolding your significant other for NOT getting ready. Your kids begin getting restless. They are now running like demons escaped from the fifth, perhaps even the sixth, circle of hell as you try and replace the bow in your daughters hair. It's 3:30 and their eyes are red-rimmed from crying and they are hungry. (the Hubby too) and want nothing to do with this family event. But all is not lost.
Your session is about who you are as a person and as a family. While the all white theme can be a gorgeous look, does it really speak volumes about who you are? Does the bow you fixed one hundred ninety seven times in your daughters hair make her who she is? Does the perfect smile in every picture mean portrait success to you? I am here to tell you, it does not. And depending on the perfect session is a set-up for disappointment. Your family is going to be themselves and that is perfect. Your session should showcase your families quirks, the things that make you unique and the things that make your family beautiful. So here are a few pointers to help save your sanity (and mine....JUST KIDDING!) on the day of your session.
1. Clothing choice: You want your family to match, yes. Your favorite paisley shirt may not be the ideal choice of attire when your children are wearing polka dots. But you do not want to look like mini clones of each other. When choosing what to clothe your family in, consider these three things. Color: Outdoor sessions leave a wide range of themes to be selected from. While solid colors are most appealing, they need not be the exact same color. Think "complimentary colors" (more on color theory in a later blog). White and green, navy blue and brown. Red and Cream. There are countless combinations and being outdoors means there is not a backdrop to compete with as there would be in a studio environment. Choose colors that your family likes and if you are not sure of your matching capabilities, ask your photographer for guidance.
Secondly, consider comfort. Do not. Ever. Under any circumstance. Force a member of your family to wear something that isn't easy to move around in or that they are not comfortable in. 'Nuff said.
Finally, take into account the weather. This seems obvious but not for the reasons you are thinking. If it will be 95° outside, wear materials that breathe. Sweat stains are not attractive. Likewise, if it is a cold day outside, ensuring your family is warm will eliminate awkward facial expressions that are a product of freezing half to death and trying to conceal the shivers. Blue lips are also not attractive so plan with the weather in mind.
2: Temperamental family members: I have three boys who are 3, 4 and 7. Trust me when I say I know the temperamental child. My husband is not a fan of having his picture take. Trust me when I say I know the grumpy grown man. But there are ways of working around the family who seems less than enthusiastic about having their portrait done.
Make sure children are fed BEFORE the session. This goes for husbands as well. Bring along non-messy snacks like pretzels and chips for little ones to snack on to alleviate hunger during the shoot and water is also my recommended drink of choice during a session. Water dries, stain free. Kool-aid does not.
Choose a time of day when your child is pleasant. I know my children are not morning people. At all. So I try to work around their schedule and do mini sessions with them in the afternoons. Lay toddlers down for a nap if necessary before the session and give older kids ample time to exert their pent up energy before requiring them to sit still. A favorite toy to keep children occupied is a great idea and can even serve as s prop during the session.
Most importantly though, let them be themselves. My oldest son makes silly faces in all his pictures. Every stinking one. But that's who he is. As long as he is not crying, I consider a session a success. Again, this is about bringing out the best in your family. Not suppressing them into portrait imprisonment. So what if your child wants to act silly? Its who they are as a person. I promise when they are older, you will love whatever results you get from this advice.
3: You: Take care of you. Do not stress over your families appearance. They are who they are. Breakouts can be concealed, frizzy hair is not the end of the world and rain on the day of your session does not equal complete and total failure. Just let it go. Your job is to get your family there. Your photographer will handle the rest.
I have pictures of my family that I cannot WAIT to show to girlfriends of the future. I have some that I cherish so deeply that I would almost rather lose a limb than these pictures. They are my family, my babies and the man who loves me through thick and thin. At the end of the day, a tongue poking out of my three year old's mouth or a set of rabbit ears prominently displayed behind a brothers' head do not proclaim that I cannot control my family. Instead, it says I can let my family be themselves. I can assure you that when your family relaxes enough to be silly in their session, you will love the results. And save a few years at the end of your life as well.
