For many of us, getting photographed is a little uncomfortable — at least at the start. Knowing what to expect during our session can help alleviate some of that uncertainty.
Starting out: Let’s ease our nerves
Our session will start with some basic, staged pictures during which I’ll run through some basic posing tips. We have two primary goals here:
- Get at least one variation of the formal family photo checked off our list.
- Warm up and acclimate to having a camera around.
Moving forward: Let’s interact
Where we go from there varies widely based on our setting and goals for the shoot, but the goal is the same: to engage in activities that shift the focal point from me and the camera to you and your family. In this way, we can break everyone out of the what do I do with my hands sort of awkwardness that comes with standing in front of a camera. I won’t give too many posing directions here other than movement that might help better capture the story or enhance the composition.
If we’re in your home, we’ll identify ways for you to interact within your spaces. (Oftentimes we’ll plan this out before the shoot.) In the example below we moved from our starter images to the backyard to play, watering some flowers, playing T-ball, swinging, and riding bikes.
If we’re somewhere else, we will focus on movement and actions that accomplish our goal within this space. You can expect some more creative direction ranging from straightforward posing (Everyone walk towards me and talk to the person next to you about the best TV show you’ve seen lately) to silly-seeming games and poses (Everyone link arms and scrunch in to the center as much as you can).
Ending our session: Looping back
As we near the end of our session, we’ll loop back and do a few more basic group portraits. This time, with everyone feeling at east, we can often capture images that are more genuine and joyful — or at the very least, a little more fun.
Bonus: Capturing spaces
If you’ve communicated that you’d like some photographs of your space in addition to your family, we’ll move through your house capturing the spaces and things that defined your family at this stage in time. If you have small kids, let them act as tour guide.
