Outdoor Family Session Guide
Thank you for choosing me to capture some special family memories for you and your loved ones. Here are a few images to show you what you can expect, and some useful tips to help you get the best out of your shoot.
I mostly aim to organise family shoots somewhere quiet, where the scenery is beautiful, and that - if you have children - they can run around and have fun!
The Lickey hills near Birmingham is where I like to take my family photos, but if you have a park near you, or somewhere else special to you, please let me know.
What style of photos can you expect? I like to try and get a mixture of formal(ish) shots and lots of fun photos of you all playing together having having a great time. I always find that the natural smiles are the nicest! So unless I ask you to look at me and pose, please try and ignore my lens!
What if it’s raining? Not to worry. If it rains, we can make the best out of the situation and take some muddy puddles/dancing in the rain photos. Or if this isn’t your idea of fun, we can always rearrange. If your location has no covered areas, it may be a better idea to rearrange.
How long will the shoot be? It’s difficult to put an exact time limit on family and baby shoots, as I understand that little ones don’t always want to play ball. So I’m flexible with timings and try to make shoots fun and lively, so that your little one doesn’t lose interest. On average the shoot will last around an hour, but if we have to stop for a snack and a little break half way through, I’m not clock watching!
What will we be doing? We will start by going for a walk together just to ease you in. And then I may get you to do some fun lively activities to get those natural smiles out! Although you may feel a bit silly at time, children will always smile more when they see their Mom and Dad joining in, so the more enthusiasm you can give, the bigger their smiles will be!
What should you wear? I understand that you will want some lovely photos and so may want to wear some fancy clothes. Please do however be aware that we may be walking somewhere quite muddy and there may be times when I will ask you to sit down, so bear this in mind when choosing your outfit. Remember wellies or appropriate outdoor walking shoes. Please try and avoid any slogan tops or jumpers, bright colours and jazzy patterns as they don’t always photograph well. When choosing what colours to wear, think about the tones which will compliment each other within the whole family. A bit of ‘matchy matchy’ can go a long way!
Is there anything else you should bring? There is no need for you to bring any props. I like to make the images look as natural as possible. Snacks and other yummy bribes are a great idea to keep your little ones happy and interested as it can seem like a long time for them. However, I will always ask you to set any handbags or backpacks to one side so your shots look as natural as possible.
Are dogs allowed? If you wish to bring your pooch along, that’s no problem, please just let me know.
These photos will be a joy to look back on for years to come and we’ll capture some gorgeous memories of you altogether! I can’t wait to meet your gang and have a great time together!
Elle
Additional Covid 19 guidance. Family shoots with more than 5 people are now not permitted and all shoots must be organised outdoors. If you would feel more comfortable with masks being worn by myself or Ben, please mention before the shoot. Social distancing will be required throughout the shoot for the safety of myself and your family.
