How to Prepare for Your Family Photo Session

Janesville Family Photographer | Midwest Family Photography | Madison Area Children’s Photographer

Family photos hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts. These are images we’ll look back on for years to come, images that our children and grandchildren will look at to remind themselves of where they came from and how much their family has changed and grown.

Tracking your family’s growth is a great reason to take annual family photos. But once you’ve booked your session, you may be feeling some trepidation. How am I going to get all the kids to behave? What should everyone wear? What if our pictures turn out terrible because no one will cooperate?

A family photo session can be a nerve-wracking experience for any parent, but the results are well worth the effort. To help you feel a little less stressed about getting everyone dressed and smiling, we’ve put together this handy guide on how to prepare for and make the most of your family session.

Schedule at the right time of day

When it comes to photographing young children, scheduling is everything. You don’t want to schedule a photo shoot right in the middle of naptime and end up with a cranky toddler. In the same way, if your session runs over into dinnertime, your little one may throw a tantrum. Even if you want “golden hour” images, consider your kids and what time of day they’re most alert, awake, and content. It’s better to have your photos taken in the middle of the day than to struggle with frustrated, grumpy children just to get that gorgeous evening light.

Talk to your kids beforehand

A photo session is not something you want to drag your kids to without warning them. Take time to sit your kids down and explain what they can expect at the family session and how they should behave. Emphasize the fun aspects of a photo shoot: They can pretend to be models and even ham it up a little for the camera. Just remind them the importance of listening to you and the photographer and following instructions.

Get inspired

Think about what kind of images you want and talk to your photographer about your options. Would you prefer a studio session or one outside at a favorite park or spot in your town? Maybe you want an in-home session where the photographer can capture your family in their natural environment. Whatever you choose, be sure to speak with your photographer beforehand about what you’re hoping to achieve, as well as any special requirements you or your family may need.

Choose what to wear

While kids definitely look adorable in their dressiest outfits, you’re better off choosing something they’re comfortable in. That goes for your whole family, including you. Everyone will feel more like themselves in their favorite outfits. Just be sure everyone coordinates well and avoid bright colors or patterns that can be distracting.

The Day of Your Session

Pack your bag

If you have kids, you’re definitely familiar with how much stuff you need to bring along with you when you go places, and a family photo session is no different. Here are some items we recommend you pack for your photo shoot:

-       An old blanket to sit on—perfect for cozy outside images

-       Backup outfits—You never know when someone will get a little messy!

-       Lint roller—This is a must if you’re including pets in the session

-       Favorite toys—A great way to keep little ones happy

-       Snacks and water—Nothing boosts a kid’s mood quite like a favorite snack! Just go for something that isn’t too messy

-       Tissues—As a mom, you probably always have these on hand, but you’ll need them to wipe messy noses

Keep an eye out for illness

If you or one of your children comes down with the flu the day of your session, talk to your photographer about rescheduling. These things happen, and we’re more than happy to work with you to find a better time to capture your family photos.

Remove any unnecessary items

Before your photographer starts snapping pictures, be sure to take any keys, phones, or wallets out of pockets and remove any hair ties or Fitbits from your wrists. All these items can be tucked away into your bag so you know exactly where they are and don’t have to stress about searching for your keys later.

Make a day of it

While your actual session may only take a few hours, it’s a good idea to make the day a relaxing one. That means no additional activities for the kids (unless you want to take everyone out for a treat after the session) and no work for you. Just spend a relaxing day at home before and after your session.

Give yourself plenty of time

Instead of rushing out the door 15 minutes later than expected, get everyone ready early and give yourself at least 30 minutes to get to your session location. You may even want to take a look at traffic reports and give yourself even more time if necessary. If you’re in a rush, you’ll feel stressed and anxious, and that’s no way to start a family photo shoot! Be sure to give yourself plenty of breathing room so you can arrive comfortably early to your session.

Stay calm

I know, it’s easier said than done. But if you’re stressed out, your kids will sense it, and suddenly everyone is having a not-fun time. Besides, genuine smiles look so much better than forced ones, and you want your family photos to capture your authentic joy and personalities!

Pet Photography - Janesville Studio or On Location

Janesville Photography Studio | Pet Photographer

Southern Wisconsin & Northern Illinois

Pet Photography

Jenny Elaine Photography

Pet Portrait Sessions.

We are so pleased to add Pet Photography sessions and services both in the studio or on location in your home. Sessions are so much fun! We start by capturing the personality of your furry friends, playtime, and of course, our most popular treat catching shots. Jenny has spent many years working in the pet care field, an is very capable of providing a fun and relaxed environment to your furry friend. Her travel studio is small and requires only about 5 feet of set up space. Call today to start planning your session. These sessions can also be incorporated into our Contemporary Portrait Sessions.

5 Tips Take Better Photographs of Your Children.

Janesville Photographer | Jenny Elaine Studio

Lifestyle Photography | Family Photography in Southern Wisconsin

I know we are all at home right now. I know we are stressed, sad, and also greatful for this time with our kids. Young and old. What a odd time. So many mixed emotions. I know there are so many day to day moments happening in your household. There is beauty at the breakfast table, homework time and even during chores. Yes I said it… you many be able to document the beauty while your little ones are folding the laundry! I’ve put together a list of 5 tips to get you taking better photographys! Enjoy - Jenny Elaine

Don’t get me wrong; I love taking photos of my three daughters. I am all for telling them to look at mom, “smile, say cheese, say jellybeans…” Anything to get their attention, but I love capturing those little moments that tell a story organically. Even though regular photos look beautiful, I feel like there’s just something different about photos of your children that are not “staged”. When you take a photo of your child organically, a lot of the times you can see their personality or mannerisms that you may miss in a cheesy smile.

Here are some of the photos that I captured organically. My daughter loves watermelon, you can tell this by the photo (I love this photo!) One night out on a walk, my daughter needed to tie her shoes. This photo is special because these shoes take forever to tie.  I remember her being so proud of herself when she learned how to tie them and how these are her favorite pair of shoes. Photos that convey emotion tell a story. Does anyone out there have a child that bites their lip when they’re thinking? Or twirls their hair when they are reading? Daydreamers with tiny smiles?  These photos will be cherished. I feel like they have a more editorial unposed look to them. 

Here are some tips to take better organic photos of your children.

1. Get those organic moments. Try and refrain from; “Look at Mom... smile for dad.... Hold still, just one more!” Try to document the normal day to day stuff; sister being a big helper and feeding her brother, your preschooler pouring their own drink, brushing our teeth, reading a book, playing the piano, building Legos, coloring, etc. And it really helps to get down to their level: If they are a crawling, get down on the floor and take the photo from their point of view. The world looks different down there. Try and capture the surrounding area and take in everything from their unique perspective. 

2. Take photos of them doing things they love! If they love to draw, take your phone down to the level of the table and snap their photo there while they are in the middle of drawing. If they love helping in the kitchen; get down to their level and snap them cracking the eggs, licking their fingers, or using the rolling pin. 

3. Reflectors can be your best friend! This one is a little more advanced, but also inexpensive. If you’re looking for clean and crisp photos, try bouncing the light. You would be surprised at how easy this is. If you don’t have a reflector a white poly board or even a sheet works.

4. Once you’ve selected your photos that you want to keep, try using some editing software apps. A couple of my favorites are Filmborn and Lightroom.

5. I’m also a huge fan of layout apps. Here are a few of the ones that I love to use: Canva, PhotoGrid, and Layout. They are a great way to make a storyboard. I like to take photos of all the details; like in the photo pictured below with the watercolors. This was an afternoon when my daughter decided she wanted to paint some flowers. There’s also one of those “cheese” faces in there, however she was beaming already from pride for the things she created.

You can do this right on your smart phone as well as a DSLR.  All of these examples were organically snapped and taken on various iPhones. 

Article by Jenny Elaine Photography from Janesville, Wisconsin.