Do you get your family picture taken professionally every year? We don’t. We tend to go to churches that have a church directory. We’ll get it every couple of years, when we go for that. Other than that, we tend to do it at Easter, when we’re all dressed up nicely. Last year we had a fun photo shoot with our new camera, however, we didn’t get any with all of us together. Here’s some of our pictures that we came away with. I was about 7 months pregnant.
- Make sure everyone is well fed before you leave. A hungry child makes for a grumpy child!
- Make sure everyone uses the bathroom before you leave, too! No need for a potty break in the middle of a photo shoot!
- To avoid blinking, have everyone close their eyes, count to three and have then open their eyes and smile at the same time. Of course, that may not work for the littlest ones (like mine), but if you have some cooperative children, it could work!
- If you’re taking your own photos, take lots of the same pose, one extra click on the camera could’ve been that perfect shot! Now that we’re in the digital age, you can just delete what you don’t want.
- If your photo is going to be outside, avoid the brightest time, from 11 to 3.
- Don’t tell the photographer that you’re not getting individual pictures of each kid (if you’re in a studio type setting where they have a certain quota they must get before they let you go). We did that, and I think that’s when he decided not to try. We would have bought something had it been good enough, but we were definitely not impressed!
- Don’t wear clashing colors, but don’t worry about everyone being in matching shirts either. Pick colors that work well with each other.
Christi says
Being a mother to 7 and a photographer I understand! I definitely think family photos are worth all the hassle. I would suggest hiring a photographer who does custom lifestyle type work or getting a friend who is good with a camera to do your family photos. When working with families I find real life interaction and fun gives the greatest pictures and really captures the personality of the individual's and family. That is what you want to capture, life as you know it not a neatly posed, group flashing the cheese smile at the camera. Lifestyle photography is much harder to capture of your own family when you are using a timer/remote and tripod, but if hiring someone is not an option then you can always try it. What I normally do is get a shot of my kids together and then set the camera up amd have an older child photographer my husband and I. I then create a collage.
Sidetracked Sarah says
Thanks for the great tips Christi! I have a photographer friend who offered to help us out after I posted this! We just need to find a time that will work for all of us now. 🙂
Laura says
What I’ve done on quite a few occasions, is take the picture that you have there, scan it into the computer, and photo shop a different face on your daughter. Then you can print it again. No one has ever been able to tell and I’ve even switched an entire head!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Good idea! I haven't had success yet with making it look quite right, but I may have to try again. I don't have photoshop though, maybe that's the problem.
AmyK says
I'm reading the replies with great interest! I have been trying to get a family photo of my 7 kids for the past year! we managed to get a few on my camera using the timer, but it wasn't easy. Plus my youngest has autism and rarely cooperates, much less looks at the camera. We have decided that a photo with him looking at the camera and smiling is just not going to happen!