Categories: Hacks & Tips

Tips for Family Photos

If you’re anything like me, you love a good family photo! But sometimes kids don’t understand your passion and vision for those “picture perfect” photos, right? Well here are my tips for family photos and some tips from our family photographer as well!

Family photos can be stressful, but they don’t need to be! Here are some tips for family photos to achieve those effortlessly perfect, fun, amazing photos every time!

Photos with kids is always a 50/50 shot on what you are going to get.

You may get those sweet angelic photos or you may get the screaming running around ones. You just never know.

My first tips for family photos: EMBRACE THE CHAOS.

I had a hard time with this one because I am a perfectionist and I want those family photos where everything looks well behaved and perfect and not like I just bribed my kids with M&Ms afterwards.

But my photographer (IG handle @capturedmomentsbykris) taught me to embrace the chaos because sometimes those are the best photos.

Let me tell you, I didn’t believe her when she said this but I decided “ok what the heck, lets try it I guess” and let me say, they are probably my most favorite photos!

It captures the TRUE essence of childhood, of our family and of LIFE!

Just look at how the pull-your-hair-out- chaos turned into beautiful chaos.

Let your kids be kids and let your photographer capture those true moments because I promise, while you may still want those family picture perfect poses, these types of photos you will cherish the most!

Second tips for family photos: USE PROPS AND LET KIDS PLAY

This going similar with the first tip, but I mean let them play with their surroundings. Let them explore and be active.

It’s what kids do best and the photos will capture their true personalities as well.

Don’t be afraid to use props and fun things to really make the photos that much more special. Take a look at these and let me tell you the kids had a blast playing with the trees and ornaments.

Third tips for family photos: GET GENUINE SMILES BY MAKING THEM LAUGH

Kids get bored really quick, even with props and exploring. So the smiles will start to look fake and forced which never makes for good photos.

So instead, make them genuinely laugh and the photos will turn out amazing.

Stand behind the photographer and make silly faces, tell them you’ll tickle them, dance/jump around being silly and goofy and the kids will laugh which makes for amazing photos!

I can’t tell you the amount of ridiculousness I look like behind the photos. In the photo below, pretty sure I am dancing and making goofy faces and she loved it and thought I was hilarious.

It makes for more genuine photos and the kids will love you being silly and goofy too! Bring out your inner kid and let the photos shine!

Fourth tips for family photos: WEAR COMFY CLOTHING

Nothing will make a photo session worse than uncomfortable clothing! And try them on your kids before the day of the photos! Make sure they can easily move in the clothing and make sure you can move as well.

You never know if your photographer has ideas such as holding the kids, running with them, playing with them, etc. for the photos so make sure everyone is comfy!

Fifth tip: LET THE KIDS HELP PICK OUTFITS

Allowing kids to help pick their outfits is another way to ensure less of a fight beforehand. Now you may have ideas on what color scheme you want or if you want them in a certain dress, outfit, shoes etc.

But pick something you don’t really care about for the photos and let them choose! For me, I let my kids pick their shoes as long as they are “fancy shoes”, meaning they cant pick their school dirty tennis shoes.

For the most part my kids want to wear their sparkly shoes for photoshoots.

I also let my kids pick their hair styles.

My oldest always wants specific hair for photos which I am okay with, so I let her choose what hair style she wants, same with my youngest even though her hair is shorter so there aren’t many options to choose from but I still let her pick.

Sixth tip: FEED THEM BEFOREHAND

Making sure everyone eats before photos is important to not have grumpy kids during the session. And helps keep energy high for the adults in the photos to make it through the session as well.

Feeding kids also helps avoid some unnecessary meltdowns because of hunger.

Seventh tip: TAKE NAPS

This goes along with the sixth tip to avoid meltdowns, make sure, especially if you have little ones, that they take a nap before the session. Or plan your photos around nap time and not too close to bedtime.

You know your child’s witching hour where nothing you do will help, well don’t schedule photos during that time!

Naps help with the overstimulating effect photo sessions can have for little kids. Making sure they are well rested will also help give the photographer a lot of energy to work with as well!

TIPS FROM MY PHOTOGRAPHER

Eighth tip: ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

This way it ensures the photographer knows what to expect from your session. This also allows the photographer to know which poses to do and which to avoid. It helps if the photographer is a parent themselves also.

Ninth tip: BOOK LONGER SESSION IF YOU HAVE A SHY OR WILD CHILD

This way it gives both the child and photographer time to capture those “picture perfect” moments/shots. If your child is shy, booking a longer session also allows that child to become comfortable with the photographer.

As well as if you have a wild child that can’t necessarily sit still that long, it gives time for the photographer to capture the candid moments and let them be wild and still get those good shots in the end.

This way the session doesn’t feel rushed.

Tenth tip: TALK WITH PHOTOGRAPHER IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

This way the photographer understands that child’s specific needs whether they have an auditory, sensory, physical, or mental needs. This lets the photographer know ahead of time so you both can talk about how to approach the session and still get those amazing photos.

Most important tip: LET THEM BE THEMSELVES

This is similar to the above tip but its THAT important for having those amazing family photos. Let them be themselves.

Let them be silly.

Let them be shy if they are shy.

Let them be wild.

Let them explore.

Let them be little.

Because in the end, THOSE are the moments you will want to cherish and hold on to forever. And THOSE photos make the best ones in the end.

Be sure and check out my amazing photographer if you are local to the Sacramento, CA area. @capturedmomentsbykris

Amelia Zamora

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