We do quite a few big, family sessions during the summer. Whether it's family reunions, families vacationing together or former clients deciding it's time to redo those family portraits, the summer keeps us hopping!
Not all photographers do large family sessions, but we enjoy capturing all the love and fun when families get together. Larger photo sessions have their own challenges so we've come up with some great tips to ensure you have a great time and we come away with some amazing photos - Moments that Last a Lifetime!
1) Make a shot list. This is important for most photo sessions, but an imperative when we have multiple families coming together. We recommend putting the list in order of priority, and keep in mind the amount of time we have will determine how many poses we'll be able to capture.
2) When making your shot list, keep in mind we'll want to get photos with small children and those with mobility issues first. Let us know if there is anyone in your session with mobility issues so we can ensure we don't have to travel too far to the spot where we'll be doing the photos.
3) Pick a point person. Usually this person has a loud voice and is known for being able to get everyone's attention. It usually helps to have that additional voice to quiet down the crowd.
4) Discuss the game plan with the entire family. It helps to get everyone on board with what our goals are for the session. Review the shot list with everyone so we don't have to spend time during the session making changes.
5) Wondering what to wear? Review our What to Wear Guide. When working with a large group, we recommend picking 3 or 4 colors and encourage everyone to pick from that palette.
6) Yes, we can capture some candid moments, just keep in mind candid moments take a bit more time than posed shots and can take even more time when we have quite a few people in a session.
7) Temper expectations. Large family photo sessions are full of moving parts; wiggly kiddos; and, because we're in natural environments, they are also full of distractions. Your photographer should be able to get the shots requested, but don't expect the little ones all the be looking at the camera and smiling in every photo.
Most importantly, remember to stay calm and enjoy your session. Our goal is to ensure you have fun while we capture Moments that Last a Lifetime.