Family Photo Session - Polly Harris Photography Kirkintilloch

WHAT TO EXPECT ON

YOUR FAMILY PHOTO SESSION

Whether this is your first photo session or your a seasoned pro, this guide aims to help you better prepare for your family photo session. I want you to get the absolute best from your photo experience and arrive on the day without worrying about anything.

Thinking about what you wear at your photo session can be stressful for some so I have included some tips and advice on clothing. What is most important is to wear clothing that you are comfortable in so you are relaxed and can enjoy the session. Enjoy reading and as always please contact me if you have any questions.

If you are in a hurry, you can skip the reading part and watch my videos below :-).

THE SHOOT

My photo shoots are informal, personalised and fun. It’s about capturing great images of your beautiful family and having lots of fun while we do that. I have a few little games and tricks up my sleeve just to ensure everyone, even the smallest children have an enjoyable experience. The best images come from children and families enjoying themselves.

Making great images is also about teamwork. I will give you a little direction just to ensure we are making the most of the natural light we have and capturing everyone at their best, the rest is about you, having fun and spending time together as a family.

SESSION LENGTH

The shoot will last around 2.5 – 3 hrs. Great images take time to make and I prefer to not rush. Sometimes it can take longer if younger children are camera shy. I try to go at the pace of the children. With little ones you can take as many breaks as you need.

WEATHER

The weather can change during our shoot. If this happens and we experience rain, we either take shelter or take a break and hope it passes. Bringing extra clothing in case it rains or turns cold is important. Families who select a morning session will find it can be cooler, so layers are recommended.

GETTING CHILDREN INVOLVED

Asking your children to help you prepare for the shoot can get them involved and help them feel more excited about the experience. Ask your children to pick some healthy snacks, it creates more of a “day out” experience for them.

WHAT TO BRING

BE PREPARED

You may wish to consider bringing a change of outfit, if you would like as much variety as possible in your images. You can also limit the clothing changes to the children. Layers are a great way of managing this without the need for changes. Please bring extra layers just in case it’s cold outside. When we get cold, it’s game over, especially for the little ones!

Please bring snacks for the children as required. Oh and wipes, hankies, etc, it’s amazing how many of these we get through especially with younger children (think runny noses, dirty faces, or hands). Having a hairbrush and hair clips handy can be very helpful. Bring anything else you think you might need.

BRING YOUR OWN IDEAS, BE CREATIVE

It’s important that I make your photo session as personal as possible. If you have any ideas on shots or props you would like to include, please let me know and we can discuss.

I encourage children to bring a favourite toy or item with them which can help personalise their photographs. Think teddy, scooters, bikes, books.

If children have hobbies it can be lovely to incorporate these into images e.g. dance, gymnastics, football, musical instruments.

LITTLE DETAILS

Phones – Try to leave your phone in your car or a bag. If it’s in your pocket, it can give you a phone shaped bulge, not a good look. Phones can also be a distraction on your session.

Embrace the outdoors – Being outdoors with children gives them a great sense of freedom. They may get a little dirty. Parents, you may get your clothes a little dirty from little foot marks and hair will blow around. Don’t worry about it.

Timing – Try not to squeeze your photo session in around other big family events. We do need a little flexibility with the weather in case we need to move your session on the day or to day before. Sessions can often run over in time so plan a little buffer time in case you do have something planned after a morning session.

“Amazing photographer! Polly has an amazing eye and can turn an everyday setting into a magical backdrop! She is such great fun and keeps kids entertained and distracted. I would highly recommend her..”

Lucy and Kenny

“I thought Polly was amazing and loved the posing!”
James, 7 yrs

“Beautiful Pictures! Polly undertook a photo shoot with my girls (5 and 2) within a wood of bluebells. The photos are stunning to say the least. She was very patient with my girls and they thought it was a fun experience as it was such a natural setting and Polly was so engaging with them. Would highly recommend Polly to anyone.”

Emma

“The afternoon that we spent with Polly was an adventure from start to finish. Whether hiding behind hay bales or running through the fields, for our little one it was just a few hours of immense fun. It wasn’t fussy or contrived Pauline just seemed to know how to capture her inner spirit. The end result was fantastic. A beautiful set of photographs, natural not staged ….. just our little one being her sunny little self. Precious ….. thank you Polly !”

Nicola and Alistair

“I thought it was fun!”
Sophie, 8 yrs

“Thank you Polly for a truly professional service – you were so wonderful and patient with my two boys. It was a fantastic, relaxed experience. Too many fabulous photo’s to choose from. I love that you don’t just take pictures, you capture moments. You are so incredibly talented and we were so lucky to have you!”

Fiona & Gary

“We thoroughly enjoyed the experience because it was clear how much fun the girls were having. They had an absolute blast from start to finish. They loved getting to go somewhere different, playing in the fields, having outfit changes and getting to play with all the different props you brought with you. You are so natural with them and put them at ease which helped get some stunning photographs. We had two images blown up and framed which shows how much we loved them. The only hard part about the experience was deciding which photographs we wanted because there were so many to choose from.”

Julie & John

WHAT TO WEAR GUIDE

A beautiful image is about the people in it, less about what you wear. The key is to wear clothes that are comfortable, so that you feel yourself and can relax and enjoy the photo experience. Keep clothing simple. Clothing choices can take the attention away from your child’s face or family, and really they should be the main focus of your images.

I would recommend you think about what you wear and the colours of your family’s clothing in advance of your photo session. Below I have lots of tips and advice on how to get started. Begin with the location we are photographing in and then refer to my colour palettes and clothing inspiration below.

SPRING

Outdoor photography in Spring brings warmer temperatures, and a carpet of colour from spring flowers and greens. With so much green around us at this time of year, I have used Spring Green as the basis of my palettes below.

SUMMER

As we move into summer the temperatures build & outdoor colours become even more vibrant. Lush greens and bright floral colours become our natural backdrop. I have used the summer green as a base in each palette.
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GENERAL RULE

As a general rule plain clothing with neutral or complimentary colours and fabrics work well (everyone wearing neutral colours or pastel shades). It’s great to have a pop of colour in your photographs, so my advice is to use the neutrals as a base, and add a hint of colour in the accessories you wear (scarf, wellies) or with a piece of clothing such as cardigan.

The weather can be changeable also, and its important to not get cold when we are outside. We can remove the layers if it’s too hot, and add them when it gets cold. 🙂

CLOTHING

Try to avoid having everyone matching or wearing the same type of clothes. Think white top and jeans. It can look dated.

Think about the textures of your clothes. Denim, wool jumpers, a straw hat can add interest to the photo.

Clothing with large writing, logos, characters and loud patterns can be distracting.

Layers are a great option for different looks in your images. Adding a sweatshirt or removing a cardigan can create a new look. As with accessories, adding a hat or scarf can create a new look.

LOCATION AND SEASONS

Match your style of clothing with the location of the shoot. If we are outdoors in your garden, at the park or beach a casual style is best. You may not want to sit on the grass with a fancy dress, and children in white clothes/tights will be guaranteed to get dirty.

In Spring and Summer we have lots of vibrant greens, and floral colours outdoors. There are lots of complimentary colours that work well with this backdrop such as pastels and neutral colours.

In Autumn yellow, orange, blue and purple tones work well. (see my palettes below)

COLOURS

Pick 2-3 colours that complement each other or shades of the same colour.

Too many Bright and Vivid Colours can take attention away from a person’s face, such as Reds, Bright Pinks and Green.

Adding a hint of colour can work well on a neutral base, pastels work well.

Neutral colours can look really fresh and beautifully simple.

For all seasons, your photographs will work better using neutral coloured clothing with a splash of colour in line with seasonal colours.