Family Photoshoot Tips for the Client


These tips are not intended to put pressure on you! I’m happy to tell you what could make your session a little better if you’d like to hear it, and totally fine if you decide to ignore it instead. No matter what you prefer or how you feel at the start of your session, I arrive at every shoot full of ideas and am more than happy to lead your family through poses and activities that will generate great photos. 




Browse Pinterest or My Previous Work

Feel free to come to me with pose ideas or photo ideas you saw online! If any of my previous photography speaks to you, let me know and we can do something similar for your shoot. 


Make sure everyone is well rested, well fed, and well hydrated.

Schedule your shoot during a time of day when everyone is generally feeling good. Food, rest and water are the foundation to feeling good. It’s hard to have a good session without them! 




Pep Talks

Give your family some pep talks ahead of time.
  • Inform tiny ones of what to expect (a new grownup with a very big camera!) and what kind of fun they will have.
  • Talk to older kids about what they might want to get out of it -any poses they’d like?
  • If your partner or spouse is feeling grumpy about the shoot, let them know I understand and I’ll make it as painless as possible.
  • It’s ok to fake it! Remember: you will be happiest with your investment if you are all happy (or appear that way) at the shoot. 



Let the Kids Rule the Day


This is probably the biggest tip, and maybe the hardest! This is mostly advice for parents of younger kids.


Try to relax. Remember that I’m working for you, and I only want to make you happy. I have no agenda for myself, but I will always guide you in the process. You’re *absolutely* allowed to tell me what you want at the shoot.


Try to lower behavior expectations for your kids. We don't have to tell them, but the kids are in charge during the shoot. This is how it will run the smoothest. It’s a new situation, so they might act out, get goofy, or not listen very well. In my experience, kids are not hard-wired to be angels during a photoshoot. A lot of it goes against their nature, and none of their behavior during a session reflects on who the family is or how the kids might behave normally. There isn't a single point during the session where I'm judging. I expect kids to be kids - and I also expect parents to get frustrated. When I'm on the other side of the camera, I certainly do.


Unfortunately, once a kid has been reprimanded during a shoot, it’s often very hard to get a genuine smile afterward. And parents, stressed about having had to reprimand, are often equally tense for the remainder of the session. So please know, I’m not expecting your kids to be perfectly malleable! The only kind of child I *might* struggle to photograph is a grumpy one. I love silly kids, I do not expect them to follow every (or maybe even any) direction I give them, and I’m good at reining them in if needed. Remember, I was a high school teacher AND I'm a mom of 3. I got this. So please go ahead and let them be kids. Go ahead and be a kid with them! They will not be this silly and energetic forever. One day posing them will be all too easy (and candids not). So play this time up!


I won’t let you go home until I’m satisfied I’ve captured good photos of your family, and if we aren’t able to do that in the time we have, we’ll reschedule. Trust me - don’t worry! 


Bribe?


I understand *completely* if you don’t want to bribe. However, photoshoots are kind of a rare and unusual situation that won't be repeated often, so it can be a handy tool at the session if needed.


Some ideas:

  • I usually remember to bring my prize box. Confirm I have it with me, then feel free to use it as a bribe for the end of the shoot.
  • Go somewhere fun after the shoot (ice cream, a restaurant, the playground).
  • bring a favorite treat and offer throughout the shoot (marshmallows, cereal, gummy bears). 
  • Plan to have silly time, or time doing one of their favorite things during the session. Tell them before or during a pose that we'll be doing it next! We can do it between poses, and it makes for great candids.



Get everybody else to laugh.

Make this a goal or even a game. Who can get the most laughs? Try to think of ways you can get your family or partner to laugh during the shoot.

  • - Tickles (works shockingly well on almost everyone, in any photo)
  • - A funny sound
  • - Dancing
  • - A joke
  • - Swinging or tossing little ones
  • - Jump around behind me as I photograph the kids .
  • - Make faces, give me bunny ears, do a dance.
  • - Grab something and put it on my head! 


Interact with Your Family and/or Partner

I've always felt that interaction makes for better photos than smiling at the camera. I will place you into a "pose", and I will get that smile-for-the-camera shot, but my main purpose is to position you so that I can see you all well while you're interacting with each other.


  • Look at each other, talk, laugh, share happy memories, tell funny stories.
  • Think of little things you can whisper in each other’s ears, funny or sweet.
  • Don’t be afraid to turn away from the camera to interact with the people your love! That love is what I’m here to capture.
  • Go ahead and forget that I’m even there. It’s always ok to shift out of poses, get more comfortable and not look at the camera. 


Do an Activity

Feel free to bring or plan something to do, especially if it’s part of your family’s personality! This might work best for longer shoots but minis could fit some things too.

Some ideas:

  • - Kids bring something that they love for one of their single shots.
  • - Funny disguises, halloween costumes, Christmas PJs
  • - Squirt guns
  • - Bubbles
  • - Picnics
  • - Sports
  • - Tree climbing
  • - A trip to get ice cream or do something fun at home 


Move and Play

Movement looks great in photographs. I will be guiding and directing you in various movements, but don’t feel like you have to stick to my suggestions only. I encourage you to play with each other the way you might at home. 


Some ideas:

  • Jumping
  • Sing songs
  • pull each other
  • squish together
  • Walk around together (stay nice and close or hold hands)
  • Surprise hug attack! 
  • - Swinging
  • - Dance competitions
  • - Piggy backs
  • Twirling
  • Simon Says
  • Races
  • Follow the Leader
  • Red Light Green Light -
  • Telephone Telephone 

Bring the Sweetness and Make it Over the Top

Bring out that sticky, lovely sweetness. Even if you’re faking it a bit.

  • Smile as much as you can, especially when looking at each other.
  • Laugh, laugh, laugh - and make your family laugh too
  • Cuddle and hug, give kisses, and snuggle. 
  • Get as close as you possibly can to your family.
  • Keep a couple compliments up your sleeve to tell your family members throughout the shoot. Whisper those compliments in their ear or tell them while they’re getting their picture taken or even when we’re in between photos. 



I know it might feel a little fake when it’s in front of a stranger, but I also know that you have laughed, smiled, kissed, hugged and thought every bit of the sweetness when I wasn’t around. So if it doesn’t feel completely real, consider it a reenactment of a previous moment in your lives. Trust me, it will look amazing. 

See You Soon!


My contact info: 

Text or call: 240.578.0130  (for quickest response). Please send me your phone information before our shoot so I can immediately reach you if necessary!

email me at hghr@hannahgunnell.com




Finally, THANK YOU!

I am so thankful for your business and happy you chose me to photograph your family.