How to prepare for a family photo shoot – guest post

I’m happy to share this wonderful blog post on how to prepare for a family photo shoot, written by one of my most favorite people to work with – Mariya. I’ve been documenting the story of their family for almost 8 years now – from a love story to the most recent winter holiday shoot with their second child.  Mariya has been kind enough to share her wisdom on how to get ready for a shoot, so if the thought of taking family photos terrifies you or you just love to be prepared and plan ahead – here’s a great read on the subject. 

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Let’s get one thing out of the way—I am not a “Pinterest mom” by any means. I don’t create hand puppets from toilet paper rolls with my kids, nor do I color code my kitchen utensils for easy navigation. I’m the type of mom who gives her toddler cereal for dinner if I’m too exhausted to cook, and will let her take a sip of my caramel Frappuccinno just to make the noise stop.

One thing that I do try to do well, though, is prep, be it a road trip or a family photoshoot.

If you’re reading this, then you’re thinking about hiring a photographer to capture moments of you life. First of all, if you’ve made your way to this blog, you’re on the right track already. But where do you go from here?

Start by asking yourself why do you feel like getting professional photos done. Maybe you saw your friend’s Facebook post with beautiful engagement pictures, or perused through BuzzFeed’s Top 20 Wacky Family Portraits. Whatever it was, it got you thinking to the point where you’re now reading about prepping for a photoshoot. So, technically speaking, you’ve already started on your Step 1 of Prepping for a Photoshoot: Gathering of Ideas.

Are you a family of sci-fi and fantasy nerds who want to do a family shoot that is a mash up of Star Wars and Game of Thrones? Sounds like it’ll go viral. Are you just a couple of low-key lovebirds looking to take a stroll around Central Park and snap a few photos to put on your nightstand? Lovely. Have no clue what it is that you want exactly? No big deal.

While it’s good to have a general sense of what you want to do during the shoot, you don’t have to crazy with the details. The first thing you have to decide is whether you want to stay within the bounds of a studio or other indoor setting, or take a chance with an outdoor shoot. There are pros and cons to both, but the decision will ultimately lie in the reason for the shoot. If this is a newborn session, you want to be indoors, and the baby’s nursery is probably the best setting for it considering how unpredictable babies can be with their bodily functions, hunger wails, and nap times. An engagement shoot, on the other hand, would probably benefit from a romantic walk on the beach at sunset, weather permitting. Once you figure out the setting, the rest of it kind of falls into place.

Step 2: Gathering of Tools

“Tools?” you ask. I’m not suggesting you start collecting hammers and screwdrivers from the Home Depot, unless of course that’s the theme of your photo session. I’m taking about props, accessories, clothes, anything and everything that will make your photos exclusively YOU.

Photobooth props, for example, are not limited to photobooths, and Amazon carries a wide variety of cheap sets . If you’ve got kids, bring their favorite toys along. Not only will that make them more comfortable during the shoot, but you’ll likely to get the best poses and the happiest of smiles out of it.

When you’re putting together a list of things you’d like featured in the photos, it’s a good idea to consult your calendar as well. A good shot goes a long way, so even if you’re doing a beach session in the middle of July, why not use a Santa hat in couple of photos in case you love the final product so much, you want to use it for your Christmas card in December. When we did our family/maternity shoot with Katrin this Spring, two of the props we used were Funko Pops of our favorite Marvel characters (they are also my daughter’s favorite toys). The idea behind it was to use one of these photos as a birth announcement, since the name we chose was based on these superheroes. 

Lastly, the most important tool, and I don’t mean it in an insulting way, is your photographer. Considering you picked out a professional who makes you comfortable, and whose work you admire, do take their advice about poses, angles, time of day, or tree shade to use for your photos. Not only will that make for better pictures, but it will also save everyone a ton of time, which could be used towards taking more shots. And since photography is an art of creative nature, your photographer will also be a great source of ideas in terms of props, outfits, backgrounds, and more.

In fact, Katrin has been an essential part of documenting our family memories through the years for a reason. We began our client/photog relationship about 8 years ago when she did our engagement shoot. It was my now-husband’s and my first time doing any kind of photoshoot, and being a shy person in general, I felt a bit like a fish out of the water at first. However, Katrin’s free-spirited personality, and a laidback approach to her craft made all the difference in the world. We had a ton of fun, felt extremely comfortable (while freezing our butts off), and the results came out amazing. To this day, my most favorite photo of my husband and I is the one where we’re simply drinking coffee to warm up in between shots. 

When you add kids to the mix, an easygoing photographer like Katrin is imperative, and in ways comforting, especially when younger kids are involved. I remember being terrified of doing a newborn shoot when our first baby was born. What if the baby cries? What if the baby just sleeps? What if the room is too small and too dark? But when we started shooting, Katrin’s calm demeanor and just a light aura around her immediately put me at ease. For the next couple of hours instead of feeling like a sleep-deprived, frazzled new mom, I felt like a mama-bear spending quality time and making memories with her baby.

Step 3: Gathering of Smiles

This isn’t exactly a stage in prepping for your shoot, but more of a reminder to come with a happy mindset, and to not stress out. Even if it starts pouring in the middle of your outdoor shoot (and you didn’t pack an umbrella), your suede shoes get ruined, and your kids are playing in the mud, there’s no reason to panic. You’re likely to end up with some amazing candid photos that capture your true essence.

You can fake make-up, but you can’t fake a genuine smile.

Mariya P.

If you liked this shoot be sure to see more photos here. We got so lucky with a beautiful spring blooms that I can’t resist posting so many images <3