Oh but isn't this just the most magical moment - the chance to gather your family round, and to snap some memories that will last a lifetime.
So let's do this thing.
First of all, why choose us?
Well, we do things a little differently - because we're a fifteen-member, all-female team. That means we have a dedicated admin team, who love ensuring your shoot is booked in in a few quick steps. Then our creative team - from photographers to editors - making sure the shoot itself is handled in a fun and exemplary way - and then your pics are magically edited.
We know that this photo shoot means a lot to you, and trust us, it means a lot to us too! We LOVE it when our clients send us snaps of the framed pics on their lounge wall, or the photo books they've created from our sessions.
By the time we present you with the final product we have spent hours chatting to you via email, getting to know you and your family at the actual shoot, carefully selecting and editing each and every wonderful moment from the shoot, and crafting a story of the day. Trust us - we're invested in this process!
Getting positive feedback from our photo shoots makes us giddy with joy, as each little picture is a mini artwork to us!
So, what are the magical elements that make up a photo shoot?
1. The light
2. The location
3. The wardrobe
And of course, your GORGEOUS family!
1. THE LIGHT
The most important thing for any photo shoot is the LIGHT.
Taking beautiful photographs is all about the light. The most magical pictures happen when the light is soft and delicious - during the hour of sunrise or sunset.
We tend to aim to shoot in the very early morning and late afternoon/early evening.
Direct sunlight creates hard shadows and squinty faces, which doesn't look good on anyone! Full shade is going to be best for all photographs!
Feel free to read this post about the magic of magic hour if you'd like to know a little bit more about the right time of day to shoot.
2. THE LOCATION
We have a few preferred locations when it comes to doing photo shoots - but why? Well, the thing is, there are SO many variables on a shoot - inclement weather, wild toddlers, dads who'd rather be watching the rugby - so, we love knowing that a few elements can be controlled.
And one of those - is by using locations that we LOVE, and that we know work photographically. So we can quickly and easily guide your family to the exact most beautiful spots, where we know we're guaranteed gorgeous light!
So, our faves are:
Our first choice is our very own natural light studio, Fynn Studio.
Or, we can shoot at your own family home.
Or, at Delta Park
If you'd like to shoot at your family home there are a few things to consider - the best pictures are going to be taken in big clutter-free rooms, filled with natural light. If you don't have too many of those, let's head out into the garden - a great patio makes for awesome pics, and a shaded garden.
Some of our absolute favourite photo shoots have happened at Delta Park - our best spot for shooting outdoor family sessions! The light is beautiful, there's a great variety of spots to shoot (picnic, forest and playground vibes for example), and it's generally speaking pretty central in Johannesburg.
3. WHAT TO WEAR
Wondering what to wear to your family photo shoot session? We've written an entire blog post with tips and tricks for organising a great coordinated wardrobe for the whole family. Read it here.
We always find that it is lovely to choose a couple of colour hues and work out outfits around that - blues or greens always work well, though it's also fun to get a pop of colour, stripes or dots in the kids outfits.
A NOTE FOR THE EXTENDED FAMILIES
These big photo shoots can sometimes be a whole another kettle of fish!
We would recommend having treats on standby for the kids, and wine for the adults, hehe! Depending on where we're shooting, we may even take a quick five-minute break to refuel during the session.
We'll work through getting a whole bunch of different combinations on the posed pictures front, and then aim to head to a park or play area where some great candid photos can take place. Even all bundled on a picnic blanket, or around a table can be a great way to finish out the shoot.
Please do let us know if there's anything you guys love doing together - playing cards, or eating ice-cream for example. These great activities can really break the ice, and help everyone get into the candid pics.
DON'T LOOK AT THE CAMERA (TOO MUCH!)
We know, this sounds CRAZY! But it makes the biggest difference! We'll tell you as soon as we're ready for you all to look up at the camera and grab a cheesy posed pic. But for the most part, pretend we're not even there. Look at each other, tickle, cuddle, play, and we'll end up with far better pics than if you're all staring at the camera! :)
Be aware that what we're capturing is more than just posed moments - we're looking for tiny fun candid pics too - the tickles, the cuddles, the giggles. Not every photo has to be posed to camera.
Our style of shooting is more documentary than about set-up poses - so tell us before hand what some of your favourite things to do as a family are - playing boardgames, eating ice-cream or going to the park for example - and we'll definitely try to get pics of those things! We're creating memories here :)
Please do let us know if you have any questions or concerns ahead of time - these things are always easier to handle in advance.
Please note: We at RDP are a fun, laid-back photographers, who will make your booking, photo shoot and post-production process as simple and easy as possible!
Our lovely office manager will guide you through the booking process with a few quick, efficient emails and is there to answer all your questions.
Our style is all about capturing life just as it is, so we'll shoot in your family home or a great outdoor location such as Delta Park. We do not provide wardrobe, and think the best props are tickles, cuddles and smiles! We do not under any circumstances release raw or unedited photographs.
Ready to book in for your family session? Pop us an email on hello@robyndavie.com
Robyn Davie Creative Studio is a brand with nearly a decade of experience in lifestyle photography and custom photo book creation. During 2020 they diversified into graphic and digital design, and have been happily creating branding for businesses around the world since then.
In 2021, the team launched Fynn Studio - a natural light studio space in Johannesburg, available for rent by photographers, creatives and clients.
The team has won multiple awards for their photography, and proudly partnered up with the iStore in 2020. Innovation is at the forefront of everything they do.
All photos and designs in this post were created by the Robyn Davie Creative Studio team. All photos, designs and content are copyrighted to Robyn Davie Creative Studio.
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