I’m definitely not an expert at this but I’ve learned a lot from last year. The pictures we took last year were decent but I know they could have been a lot better if we had planned a little differently.
1. Plan around your child’s schedule. Myan doesn’t have a set schedule so his afternoon naps are pretty random. Because of this, it is better for us to do scheduled activities in the morning. Our photo shoot was at 11:30 which was perfect just in case he slept in and it gave us time to make breakfast and get dressed without rushing. We finished right before lunch and it worked out perfectly because he wasn’t super tired or hungry yet.
2. Wear comfortable clothes. I remember having to wear dresses that were super uncomfortable as a kid. I was cute but it isn’t realistic to put a kid in uncomfortable clothes and expect them to smile for the camera. Try to meet your child in the middle and compromise. My son isn’t a huge fan of button ups so I chose a sweater and jeans for him.
3. Have a backup plan. Who wants to take pictures with messy clothes? Kids can find a way to get messy with anything! I chose dark colors for my son to wear but I also had a backup shirt just in case. It’s safe to have a backup for mom and dad nearby as well. You just never know!
4. Bring a distraction. Just in case your little one isn’t feeling picture day you can bring some things to take their mind off of the camera. My son loves music so I created a playlist with his favorite songs just in case. He did a great job so we never got to use it but it would have made some cool pictures of us all dancing at the Christmas tree farm. I also had snacks and his favorite toys. Snack time can be the perfect time to get some mommy and daddy shots in.
5. Make it short. A 2-hour photo shoot is a bit much for young children. In two hours they are sure to need to potty, get hungry, and become bored. Your photographer doesn’t need all day to capture some awesome family photos. My photographer had 25-minute mini sessions that were perfect. We got a ton of great shots and no tears!
6. Choose a family-friendly photographer. My photographer Sarah was awesome! She had a plan for our pictures and it was such a smooth process. She even came prepared with music too! I was impressed and blown away by her professionalism. I am beyond happy with her work and grateful she was able to capture so many special moments of our little family in such a short time. If you’re in the Seattle area check her out!
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