The session is booked! Now you need tips for family photos to make the best of it! With 12 years of photographing families, and several of my own family photo sessions with four young boys, I have reversed engineered the timeline for getting ready to take all the guess work out of it so you don’t have to!
Top Tip: Don’t Stress
Remember WHY you’re doing these photos. Its to remember. Remember joy, fun, and laughter with your people at this time because it’ll never be like this again. ever. #sorrynotsorry
Focus on the why, expect the unexpected and let the good times roll.
Your photos will be amazing no matter what happens!
So grab a pencil and paper, we’re going to walk through it together!
Table of Contents
Hi! I’m Alison, your chaos coordinator, toddler briber, and parent commiserator. Oh! And Oahu family photographer!
As the ringleader of my own 4-boy circus, I know how hard getting family photos can be.
I run my photo session like a party. I give you something TO DO so you don’t feel awkward wondering, “Where do I put my HANDS?!”
Dad is playing with the kids, everyone forgets what’s ACTUALLY happening, and you look amazing bc you’re actually enjoying yourself. #whoknewphotoscouldbefun
Fast. Fun. Done.
How to Reverse Engineer Your Photo Day Timeline
Getting to your location Tips for Family Photos
Start with photo session start time from your photographer.
Add 15 minutes to find parking and meet with your photog.
Add 5 minutes if you have young children that need to be unbuckled
Add 5 minutes if you need to get young children dressed
Add another 5 minutes if you have more than 2 young kids (yes, the compound)
Get directions to your shoot location. How long is the drive time?
Add 5 minutes to the drive time in case you get caught at every red light.
Is your travel time during any predictable traffic? Add time to account for traffic
What time do you need to leave house?
Getting Ready Tips for Family Photos
Before you leave the house, you need to feed your children & get everyone dressed.
How long will it take mom to get ready? Remember: Shower, blow dry, curl, makeup. The full giddyap!
How many kids have long hair to brush or pull back? Multiply each by however long it takes to do their hair (2 kids x 10 minutes each = 20 minutes)
How many kids have short hair to gel? Multiply that by 3 minutes each (2 kids x 3 minutes each = 6 minutes)
Snack time! Allot 15 minutes to let the kids chill in front a tv with a snack while mom & dad get ready, but before they get dressed. This may or may not need to be added to your overall timeline.
Allow 5 minutes per kid to get dressed – even if they dress themselves you’ll need to verify and correct someone.
Now take the time you need to leave the a house and add up all the time you need to get everyone dressed
That’s the time you need to start getting ready!
Preparing clothes Tips for Family Photos
Tsk tsk. This should be done well before photo day. I like for my clients to have it done a full 7 days before because that’s how we take the stress out of family photos!
If you haven’t already prepared and laid out your clothes, you’ll need to do that immediately. Do not wait until its time to get dressed. My clients get access to Style & Select, a styling tool that removes the guess work of what to wear – by photographers! I’m all about making it EASY for you!
Try on everyone’s outfits – someone will have outgrown them.
Iron or steam everything – no packaging lines allowed. They will be visible.
Tip: throw a damp rag in the dryer with your clothes if you don’t have a steamer or steam function
Hang everything up and out of the way until its time to get dressed!
Preparing for Photo Day Wrap Up
Remember WHY you’re doing these photos. Its to remember. Remember joy, fun, and laughter with your people at this time because it’ll never be like this again. ever. #sorrynotsorry
Focus on the why, expect the unexpected and let the good times roll.
Your photos will be amazing no matter what happens!
More Tips for Family Photos
I'm a USMC spouse, South Carolina native, recovering homeschool mama of a 4 boy circus. They've taught me the most important facet of family photography: KEEP IT FUN!
Alison's Process
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