How To Get The Most Out Of Your Family Shoot
Hello! So you've booked your family photo session and are wondering how best to prep for it? Well, all the answers are in this post :)
Please read all the way to the bottom as there's tons of info on what to wear, the best location to shoot in, why the light is so important and what to bring along on your shoot.
DON'T STRESS
So now you've booked a session and are ready to shoot ~
First up, don't stress!
Our style of shooting at RDP is all about capturing relaxed candid moments.
Our hope is that in ten years time you'll be able to look back at these pictures and see a moment in time - things just as they were.
Don't worry too much about the small details, we'll be keeping a keen eye for anything that's not quite fitting into the frame; all you have to do is take a deep breath and have fun!
TRUST US :)
Our number one goal is that you look good in your pictures, and are happy with the resulting product! Let us do our jobs, and try and enjoy the process :)
We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions though!
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.
Speaking of photo books, here's our latest offering - Fynn Photo Books, where you can quickly and easily upload your photos and order a book within a few quick clicks.
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!
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.
FUN AND CANDID
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 :)
Here are some quick tips on how to get fun, authentic pics:
- get your cuddle on (smush your faces up against each other, have tickle competitions, spin each other around, blow raspberries, pull silly faces)
- get moving (dancing, chasing each other, jumping on the bed, piggy backs and more!)
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! :)
A NOTE FOR THE KIDS
Let the kids be kids! Silly faces are the best kind of faces!
And don't get too stressed out if they're a bit unruly during the photo shoot - all kids are! There's a brand new person snapping pics of them, and often they like to show off a little bit. This is a great chance for us to get some fun pics of them in their bedrooms, or on the playground, just having fun!
Also though, you know your kids better than anyone - and you know all too well that if they've missed their nap, or are feeling a little under the weather, it's going to be tricky to coax a smile out of them.
Please do let us know as soon as you can if you think it's going to be better to reschedule the shoot (even if it is the day of!). We try to be as flexible as possible with family shoots, as happy babies and happy kids make for the best pictures - and that's all we want - for you guys to be happy with your pictures!
ONE-ON-ONE
Take a moment for a special photo with each child. During the shoot we'll do our best to make sure that each family member gets a one-on-one, but please do let us know if there's any special combinations that you'd like to not miss out on - grandparents and grandkids for example!
A NOTE FOR THE MOMS
Your kids love you just the way you are - every smile line, every wrinkle, every little part of you. They will always remember you the way you are right now - strong, brave, loving and everything they need in the world. Take a deep breath, let go of your insecurities, and bathe in their love for an afternoon.
It will really show in the final photos.
A NOTE FOR THE DADS
We get it, we really do. It's the weekend, the rugby's on, there's a cold beer in the fridge, and all you want to do is chill on the couch in your slouchy shorts.
So we're going to make you a promise - we promise to make this whole thing as quick and painless as possible! We've heard of photographers doing four-hour photo sessions with families - we're not one of those photographers! Our aim is to get you back on the couch within an hour (maybe a leeeeeeeeettle bit longer if you have a big family!).
If you can give us that much, we also promise to give you some photos that you'll treasure for the rest of your life!
Far too often a grumpy, fussy dad can totally ruin the mood of the whole shoot - the kids pick up on the vibes and also don't want to be involved! So pretty please, play along :)
A NOTE FOR THE BABIES
Taking your first family photos with your new munchkin?
Don't wake the sweet little baba up before we get there! If your little guy or girl is sleeping when we get there it's completely fine! We can get adorable photos in the crib, in your arms and on your bed all while he/she sleeps, and let them wake up naturally.
A good rule of thumb when you have a new little one in the family is to start with the pictures of the older siblings first. It's a great opportunity to keep the focus on them. We like spending some time with the big kids in their rooms - seeing their favourite toys, and just hanging out. This way they don't get too jealous of all the focus being on the new little addition, and as they get bored of the shoot we can switch over to the little one.
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.
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.
WHAT TO BRING
A lot of families ask me what they should bring along on their family photo shoot - props and the like. Ideally the less you bring along the better - especially if we're heading to a park - lugging things around isn't ideal. A small picnic (snacks and drinks keep everyone happy!), maybe a treasured toy, or some bubbles.
Using props is completely not us - we love pics to be as natural and real as possible.
LOCATION:
Our first choice is our very own natural light studio, Fynn Studio.
Or, we can shoot at your own family home.
Or, at Keyes Art Mile
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 my absolute favourite photo shoots have happened at Delta Park - my 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.
WEATHER:
Often overcast weather can make for the best photographs, so don't stress if the day is looking a little cloudy! We will however most likely reschedule if there is a thunderstorm - we'll chat on whats app on the day of the shoot.
SCHEDULING:
Please note that our time is valuable!
If we've scheduled this shoot with you, it means we've turned down other shoots for that time period. We understand that life happens, and sometimes gets in the way, but we do require a full 24 hours cancellation/rescheduling notice, and will add an additional small onto your shoot fee every time you cancel/reschedule within less than 24 hours.
SOCIAL MEDIA
We love sharing our images online, but would never do so without your express permission.
Once we have edited your photos, and sent you a sneak peek, we will send an email asking if we may share them online - but don't feel pressured! It's completely up to you.
If you would however like to share the pics from your session (and we love it when you do!), please do credit us, as each one is a little piece of artwork to us. Here's the easy way:
Robyn Davie Photography
WEB: www.robyndavie.com
FB: www.facebook.com/robyndaviecreativestudio
IG: @robyndavie
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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