First of all, congratulations to our two randomly-selected winners, who will each receive the new JoTotes bag!
1. Mark L. in Ft. Pierce, Florida who said, “This would be for my daughter if I won. She would not only be 100% surprised she got a new bag, but even more surprised by her father’s ability to pick out a fashionable camera bag!”
2. Juliane in Waldshut, Germany who said, “If I’m at the next wedding to make the pictures, I do not want to take my old, little pocket. I would like to take this wonderful bag, having everything perfectly under control. A woman just needs a great bag – and a great camera bag would be the crowning glory!”
Both of you can email jototes@gmail.com and they’ll work out the details with you.
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For today, I’m doing something a little unique. I’m turning the rest of this post over to my friend Rebecca Cooper, who is a guest here on my blog today. She is a very gifted photographer and one of the sweetest people I know, and she has a wealth of inspiration to share. With that, I give you … Rebecca.
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Hi everyone! My name is Rebecca Cooper and I’m so excited to be here with Becky to share some thoughts with you on one of my most favourite topics in the world…and that is photography!
As a professional photographer I take thousands of pictures for beautiful families each year around this time. Capturing “the” photo for their Christmas cards is often on their minds. Recording the changes that occur throughout the year as your family grows can be a lot of fun! But let’s face it, when it comes to getting family photos taken, FUN isn’t always the first word that comes to mind. I’ve been behind the camera enough times with my own family to realize that family photos, while they are treasured keepsakes, don’t come without some effort. Today I’m going to share a few quick tips with you that can help put the fun back in your next family photo session.
At a photo session for our family a few years ago, the above photo was one of my favorites. I sure love that sweet family of mine! While we’re all looking at the camera in this shot and mostly smiling…I have to tell you, that this was only, one of a handful of shots from the hundreds that were taken during the session, where this was the case. There were a few tears, an incident involving a bumble bee, a husband who was done taking photos much sooner than I was and some hilarious, but not quite hang-on-the-wall-worthy, expressions from the kids.
I remember feeling a little frustrated at the time that the kids were making silly faces and things just didn’t seem to be working out quite how I’d envisioned. But when I look back at these pictures now, I couldn’t possibly love them more! They make me smile and they portray our family so well – the outtakes more so than the frameable shots I think! Ha! That goofy grin was trademark Carson at 3 years old, Addie with her tongue sticking out is so typical of her quirky little personality and Emily, the sweetheart, was trying so hard to smile nice for mom – until she that bumble bee showed up, then it was all over.
Read on for a few tips I’ve learned from personal experience and from photographing hundreds of family’s over the years, that can help make your family photo session go just a little bit smoother this year.
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{ 5 simple tips for your next family photo session }
1. Have a plan. Plan the time of your photo session carefully. Make it a time when you won’t be rushed, children will be fed and well rested. Wear comfortable clothing. Pick a location where you can take the majority, if not all of your photos. Have a wishlist of photo ideas and poses you’d like captured ready for your photographer to help them know what style of photos you’re looking for (casual, silly, formal, etc.) Prepare everyone ahead of time so they know how long you’ll be taking photos and any behaviour expectations you may have. You want as many variables working in your favour as possible. Tired, hungry kids, uncomfortable clothing choices and multiple changes in location are all going to cut down on the amount of time everyone is happy and smiling for photos. Have a plan and make it a simple one.
2. Make it a flexible plan. While it’s great to have a plan, setting your expectations too high can often lead to frustration. Make your next family photo session less about getting the perfect shot and more about the moment, each other and the thought of what memories will be triggered by these photos years down the road. This will take a little bit of the pressure off and help everyone to relax and just enjoy the time together as a family. The perfect family photo may not necessarily be the one you envision. Open your mind, relax, have fun with it & the photos will reflect a lovely memory of time spent together. If you are relaxed, your children will be too.
3. Involve the whole family. Ok, that might sound funny, it is family photos afterall, but inviting everyone’s input (especially children’s) as far as clothing choices, poses and other ideas, helps everyone feel like the photo session is a team effort – not just something they’re doing because mo and dad said they had to. Let each family member take a turn arranging the family how they’d like to see them photographed. Watch out, this could get a little silly. When children are given some creative control and allowed to share their input they are so much more cooperative when it comes to taking photos mom and dad or the photographer would like.
4. Be prepared. Bring along some snacks, perhaps some games or other activities to keep younger children occupied while they’re waiting for other family members to have their photos taken. A few more things I also like to have on hand: a brush or comb, hairspray, water or something to drink, wipes, a treat (I am not, will not, never have been above using a little bribery ), an extra change of clothes in case someone gets dirty, a fun prop or two to personalize your session. Being prepared for situations that might arise during your session helps so much. Things go smoother and you can relax a little bit more when you know that if something goes wrong you’ve got some back up tools to help you out.
5. Have Fun. Most importantly m
ake your family photo session a fun event, something to look forward to. Bring silly props – think fake mustaches, funky glasses, balloons or some bubble gum for a bubble blowing contest. Not only do they look cute in photos, props also serve a very useful purpose. They keep little hands busy, fill in time while siblings are being photographed and help to drawing out smiles and genuine interactions. Whatever you can do to ensure that your photo session is an event to anticipated, not dreaded is going to help make it fun and will even help set the stage for next years photos!
Wishing you all the best of luck with those family photos! I hope these quick tips will help make your next family photo session a fun and memorable one.
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For more tips on making photos fun and ideas to take great, natural photos of your kids, be sure to check out Rebecca Cooper’s latest eBook Don’t Say Cheese!
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Learn more about Rebecca’s eBook
here.
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See Rebecca’s latest eZine article for Ella Publishing
here, where she shares a few photo game ideas for making photos fun for kids.
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Check out Rebecca’s blog
here. You can always count on eye candy, and she is sharing more great photo tips throughout the month of August.
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Go on. Leave your first name, city and state or country and we’ll announce the 2 winners in tomorrow’s post! THANK YOU Rebecca – these are great tips and many of us benefit from the information and reminders!
