HOW TO TAKE BETTER FAMILY PHOTOS

The time of year for fall family photos is here! This post will help you prepare for your session and ultimately receive better family photos you’ll love for years to come.

Once a year I like to have family photos taken. (You can see last year’s photos here.) So last week before the holidays we met with a photographer down in St. Pete at the Indian Temple Mounds for our session. The drive was a little long for us, but the setting was just perfect! This location is nestled into a quiet neighborhood and filled with lush green trees and the most perfect fall ambiance. My little guy was a little shy, while Isabella took right away. I can’t wait to get these photos printed and hung in our home! (Update: The photos were printed on Fracture glass prints! They’re absolutely gorgeous!)

Isabella is serious goals from her hair down to her adorable ankle boots! She also has a serious obsession with bandaids. While I wanted to rip that one off her leg prior to pictures, my husband convinced me to let it go. We’ll look back on these photos one day and will be filled with real memories.

What to Wear

Let’s start with Mom. Dresses are the most flattering pieces you can wear. They photograph well and create beautiful movement in photos. For dad, a dark wash jean or chinos paired with a button up or henley is a classic look that suits any man. Try to avoid cargo style pants as they appear bulky in all the wrong areas. Dress your kids the same way! Little boys in chinos and little girls in a flowy, twirl dress. Chances are the photographer will get a gorgeous shot of your little girl mid-twirl.

He is such a HAM! I love so much about this capture…his big cheesy smile and squishy cheeks.

My tiny princess <3 The day of our session she decided to paint her own nails. She felt like a real princess and it shows all over her face.

Matching vs. Coordinating

The long-standing debate. To match or not-to-match. Remember when the jeans, white shirt and no shoes family photos were popular? Me too. A better way to add interest, color and textures to your photographs is to choose 3 colors for your palette. Take into consideration your session location. If you’re shooting in a dark, lush green area, you’ll want to stay away from the greens and browns of course to avoid blending in with the scenery. For fall you can pick one pop of color and two other neutrals to compliment it.

Example: I opted for a long, flowy floral print maxi dress in neutral colors. My daughter wore a solid pink dress (our pop of color) while my son wore a simple large-block plaid button-up shirt and blue chinos. All of the colors complimented each other well, the patterns didn’t clash and we created detail and texture through our wardrobe.

Don’t be afraid to accessorize either. A bold statement necklace, watch, hat, or suspenders are a nice finishing touch.