Preparing for Your Family Photography Shoot: 6 Important Things to Consider

Planning a family photoshoot?

This short guide will give a list of what to consider in advance to make sure to get the most out of the time and have confidence you’ll get some great pictures!

Work with your photographer to find a location with variety

Location plays a very important role in a family photo. Yes, the centre of attention is the family, of course, the general mood or ambience is affected by the location, so you’ll want to find a spot that fits your family’s “vibe”.

You may already have a location in mind, or you can ask your photographer for recommendations on locations that have worked well for them in the past and they will have a handful of suggestions.

The backyard of a home can definitely be a suitable option, and nearby parks, trails, or greenspaces are also great choices for family photography.

Remember that it’s good to consider how your family may feel about having an audience when they are trying to smile, if you are using a public space that can get busy.

Choose the best time of day for soft, golden light

The best time of day for a family photoshoot is the hour before sunset, which is called “Golden Hour”. This is when the light is soft and has a beautiful golden glow which can make for some truly spectacular pictures.

While it may not always be the easiest time to manage, just because of busy schedules or tired children, you should prioritize this time of day for pictures for the best results.

If it simply doesn’t work out to use Golden Hour, it is still possible to get great results during the midday sun. While sunlight plays an important role in photography, direct sunlight is not ideal as it creates unflattering harsh shadows under the eyes.

During midday photoshoots, the location becomes very important because your photographer will be looking for shaded areas that can provide nice even light — for example, in areas with heavy tree cover, a gazebo or pavilion, or other natural or manmade roofs.

Watch the weather forecast

Once you’ve got a location and time set, it makes sense to still keep one eye on the weather forecast to make sure it cooperates.

Your photographer will confirm in advance if any unwelcome weather is blowing in, but it’s definitely nice to avoid having the whole family get ready only to have to reschedule because nobody checked the forecast.

Your family photographer will be able to get great results on both sunny and cloudy days — though the “mood” of the images is a little different.

Situations with rain, heavy wind, or heavy snow are definitely good times to reschedule, however, assuming you don’t want photos with hair all over the place or everyone shivering in the cold!

Pick out clothing in a suitable colour palette

One of the most common questions I hear is: “What should we wear to a family photo shoot?”

You’ll want to pick outfits that match a colour palette of two or three colours that work well together. The best results are usually with soft colours — avoid white or black if possible as it can look overly formal and also make you blend into the background.

But this is just a recommendation! It’s good to let personality shine, so you don’t want to be overly restrictive — if neon colours fit the family vibe, then go for it!

Ultimately, it also does depend on how casual or formal a photo you are looking for. Suit jackets and ties might be the right selection for a family celebrating a milestone or event, while light t-shirts and sundresses could be the go to choice for a summery family photo for another family.

Give yourself room in the schedule so you don’t have to rush

It’s hard for anyone to look their best when they have somewhere else to be or if you are racing against a setting sun!

For the best results, prepare early enough so that you arrive at the location either on time or even a little early. Rather than thinking of the photo session as something to rush through with the clock ticking, enjoy the time together with your family and you can even use the opportunity for fun conversations or to catch up.

Relax!

Last of all, when it’s finally time to take the pictures, remember to relax!

Trust your photographer to keep things running smoothly and to capture some great moments. If mom or dad is worried that the kids aren’t smiling or trying to remember whether or not everyone has matching socks, those stressful thoughts will be evident in the final pictures!

Your photographer has worked with many different families before and part of their role is to create a relaxed environment so that natural smiles can bubble to the surface a little more easily.

If there are kids involved, chances are pretty good that they’ll act up a little bit at some point – and the best way to resolve this is usually with a bit of patience and some creative adjustments, rather than asking for too much from them so that the tears really start flowing.

Go out and make magic happen!

Hopefully these tips will help you feel more prepare for your family photos — so the next step is to go and get some great pictures.

Good luck!