Top 5 Tips to Get the Best Photos from Your Portrait Session

 
Family portrait in studio of family laughing
 

Unless your name is Kim Kardashian it may be difficult to find the time to get the family in front of a photographer, so when you do you want to make sure it counts. With that in mind, we have put together a list of things you can do to ensure that your next family portrait session goes as well as any celebrity family could hope for.

 
 

1. Plan ahead for your photoshoot

First things first, you need to plan ahead. Make sure you schedule your photo shoot well in advance, think at least 4-8 weeks in most cases, more for newborn sessions. This gives you plenty of time to take care of numbers 2 through 5! 

Show up to your session on time and ready to go. Even more important if your photo shoot is in the outdoors, lighting is at its best for a short period of time, known as golden hour, and if you miss it you've likely sabotaged your own portrait session.

2. Communicate your vision for the session

Your ability to communicate your goals with your photographer will set the tone for your entire shoot. From your first conversation, it is important that everyone get on the same page. If you're expecting high fashion, uber trendy, modern, or traditional, it is paramount that your photographer knows exactly what you are looking for.

An experienced photographer will guide you through many of the choices you'll face. In fact, any family photographer worth your time (and money) will require a consultation in which you and the photographer will go over a thorough questionnaire designed specifically to answer all of these questions.

Communicating your needs with regards to products (albums, wall art, cards, etc.) prior to your portrait session is important so that your photographer knows what to shoot for.

3. Work with a hair stylist and makeup artist

This is often the most overlooked and yet the easiest thing to manage when prepping for a photoshoot. If you plan on getting your haircut you should do it no sooner than a week prior to your session. Hair usually looks better a little grown out from a fresh haircut. If you plan on making a style change make sure to mention it to your photographer. You may be surprised at how many people neglect this fundamental step thinking they'll be able to do it last minute, they're wrong.

If you really want to nail a portrait session, have your hair styled before your session. We offer all of our portrait clients hair styling and makeup at no cost. Most professional photographers have in-house options or at the very least a list of their city's top hair/makeup artists, so be sure to ask for their recommendations.

4. Choose the right wardrobe

Number 4 on our list is quite possibly the most important. Your style can make or break your photo shoot. No matter how gorgeous you are, no matter how amazing your hair, no matter how glorious that sunset, if you are wearing ill-fitted, mismatched, or otherwise unflattering clothing, it's all for naught. If you are ever in doubt about what to wear, your photographer should be happy to help. Read our style guide blog for tips on styling for family portraits.

Like hair and makeup, we offer styling and wardrobe advice during our in home consultation. We also work closely with Chloe Dao Boutique in Rice Village and Itsy Bitsy Boutique in River Oaks. These boutiques offer our clients great options in acquiring the best outfits for the photoshoot, again at no additional cost. This is fairly unique but most professional photographers understand what works and what doesn't.

5. Trust your photographer

This is often the hardest thing to do, but it's a key step in getting your photos from "aww, that's cute" to "wow, you look amazing!". First, you've got to trust yourself, trust that you have selected a photographer that can give you what you want. Then, allow them to do what they do. Your photographer has a vision, they see the final product during the entire process, allow them to get you there.

Bonus: Food!

If your photo session involves children (this usually applies to dads too), keeping them fed can be the difference between a nightmare and a dream. Bringing a favorite snack will help ensure your little one is energized and agreeable. And don't forget a beverage! Avoid any snacks that are blue, green or red and absolutely NO chocolate. We've found that light-colored dumb-dumbs are great for bribery :-)

 
 

The Results

By following these 5 tips, you are all but guaranteed to have a great family portrait session and some fantastic family photos. More than that, your overall experience will be far more enjoyable.