Just getting the whole family looking presentable and out the door without any food stains can be stressful enough so when you finally get to your shoot its good to have a few tips up your sleeve to help you feel relaxed

1.) KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

Try to visualise beforehand what you would like to hang on your walls and then let your photographer know. Are you after some really arty portraits where you are smaller within the landscape or are you after some more traditional shots where everyone is looking at the camera with their lovely grins? Do you want an emphasis on solo portraits of your children or more on the family as a group because you rarely make it in the frame of all your other photos. I generally try to get a good collection of everything but the more information your photographer has the more they can tailor the shoot to your needs. Sharing a  Pinterest board is also a great way to get on the same visual page as your photographer.

2.) ALWAYS PREPARE YOUR OUTFITS IN ADVANCE

Try to have your outfits all organised at least a week in advance. I will send you some styling advice but as a general rule it is a good idea to avoid large branding and choose outfits that

3.) TIMING

Often the best time to take family photos is approximately 2 hours before sunset as you get that flattering “golden hour” light but I always say that this needs to work in with your childrens needs as well so we can discuss what’s best for you and your crew

4.) FULL TUMMIES

Make sure the kids (and husbands 😉 ) are well fed before the shoot and if you have littler ones try to make sure they have had a good nap. If it doesn’t happen to plan though don’t worry about it because you would be surprised how happy and engaged kids are once they get outdoors.

5.) PREPPING THE KIDS

When you talk to the kids about what they are going to do try not to make a big deal out of it otherwise they can feel pressured to perform. I would also suggest avoiding bribing as then they can see the shoot as not a fun thing. The best way to describe it is “We are going on a family adventure and it is going to be SO fun. We are going to explore and play while we get our photos taken and then we you are all grown up we can look back on the photos and remember what a fun time we had!”

*I also carry a few tiny little treats that I often pull out for extra encouragement along the way ( but let that be a surprise to your littlies).

6.) HAVE FUN

The best way to get great photos is definitely to actually have fun during your shoot so make sure that you enjoy this time with your family. I encourage parents to ditch feeling self-conscious in front of the camera and to be overly affectionate and playful with their kids as it translates to really connected images. Yes you may feel a bit silly at times but your kids will eat it up. I really like incorporating games and activities into my shoots like flying paper aeroplanes or reading a story so that things don’t feel forced and I am able to capture your family in a natural way.

7.) EMBRACE THE CHAOS

Don’t worry about your kids behaviour!!! Even if they are acting out of the ordinary – don’t let it get to you. I am not worried by it at all and I generally just go with the flow depending on your little ones ages and mood on the day! KIDS are KIDS and often they are just acting age appropriately. Usually with some patience and a “not bothered” attitude from us adults we can generally get the most difficult clients back on board 😉

*I find the best way to get a kid to smile is to tell them not to with a cheeky grin