Let’s set the scene: It’s late summer or early fall and you realize you haven’t snapped your family photo for a Holiday card and all the local photographers are booked… ekkk! We’ve all been there. That’s why we called up a local photographer (Taylor Jane) to give us some great tips on how to do it ourselves.
- Picking Your Outfits
- Style Mom first. If this is a family shoot with kids, style Mom first. If Mom feels and looks good, everything else will fall into place. Also, it’s a great opportunity to put Mom in something with a lot of colors that you can build off of in the other outfits.
- Pick kids next, then Dad.
- Don’t match. While the colors should look good together – don’t match. Let everyone’s individual style show through.
- Don’t have much checkered or small plaid prints, it’s hard for the camera to pick it up and sometimes warp.
- If you are INDOORS – try to pick neutrals rather than a lot of colors.
- Don’t get a haircut the DAY OF your photo shoot. Ideally, a week or two in advance.
- Time Of Day – Try to go 1-2 hours before sunrise or sunset. If you are shooting it in the middle of the day, find a big spot of shade. And, don’t face INTO the sun – everyone will squint.
- Using Your Smartphone
- Take a video in selfie mode – Prop it up on something (or have someone you trust hold it) and take a video of all of you posing. This will allow you to slow your video down, frame by frame, and grab a screenshot when everyone is looking their best.
- GET CLOSE – If you don’t feel weird about how close you are, you aren’t doing it right.
And – if you decide to hire a photographer, some tips:
- “Creep” Their Work
- Do you like the style pictures they take? Are the colors and poses things you like? Make sure their style is your style.
- Tell them what you want in ADVANCE of your shoot – certain photos, expectations, etc.
Want to hear more? Listen to this podcast with Taylor Jane –
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