It’s officially Family Photo Season!!!
So today I’ve teamed up with my friends at River City Live to share some tips for a better family photo shoot. This video shows a little behind-the-scenes fun from a shoot I did last week with the RCL crew. And at the end I also share some of my favorite photo spots around Jacksonville!
How great is this screen grab? Don’t I look like someone you should take advice from?
Riley took some pictures for me during the segment. She also took some of herself! haha!!
And here are a few bonus tips that I didn’t have time to share…
Moms, family photos should be fun. If the experience sucks EVERY SINGLE TIME, you’re doing it wrong! But no worries. I’m here to help. 🙂
You can do these simple things to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.
– Let your kids pick out their clothes. Yep. Seriously. But here’s the secret – you choose two perfectly acceptable outfits, and then let them decide which one they like most. If they are comfortable and feel like they have some influence throughout the process, they will be happier. This is also why I often ask kids for help during a shoot. Do I need their help? No. Does it make them feel important? Yes! And they’re generally more into the whole process because of this!
– Talk to your kids about the photo shoot ahead of time. Tell them it’s going to be fun (And you better pick a fun photographer, so you don’t have to lie!) and give them an idea about what to expect.
– Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. To be specific, I recommend 30 minutes more than the time it normally takes you. Why? Because you’re going to want to look your best, and that sometimes means an extra step (or 4) in your hair styling routine, ironing a shirt you would usually ignore, or asking your husband to change his shoes 6 times. Am I right?!? Photos are an investment, and you want to look your best. So give yourself time to make that happen. Otherwise you’ll leave the house late, argue with your spouse in the car, and by the time you get to me, you’re a hot mess. DON’T DO THIS! An extra 30 minutes is worth it!
– Also, bribery works for children and husbands. I know. I know. Some of you are above bribing your kids, but can you please make an exception this one time? 😉 Plan to go out for ice cream if everyone cooperates during your shoot. Or make a family night out of it, and go to dinner. Because let’s be honest, you’re not going to look this good again for a long time!
What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear what has worked (or backfired!) for you.