Preparing for a family portrait session
Family sessions are the most logistically complicated type of portrait work, and also the most likely to produce the images people keep for a long time. A little preparation makes a real difference, not in terms of staging or styling, but in terms of arriving in a state where the session can actually go at its own pace.
Timing and children
Children under about eight tend to do better in the morning, before they are tired. The studio books family sessions as the first slot of the day for this reason. If you are booking an outdoor session, the morning light is also better in summer, so the timing works on both counts.
The session pace is slow. There is no pressure to produce a frame every five minutes. Children who are restless at the start of a session usually settle after twenty minutes or so, once the camera stops being a novelty. Susan does not direct children heavily. She waits.
What to wear
The most common mistake is coordinating too precisely. Matching outfits tend to look dated quickly. A loose palette, where everyone is in tones that work together without being identical, tends to age better.
Avoid clothing with large logos or text. Avoid very bright colours if the session is outdoors in summer, as they can reflect onto skin. Beyond that, wear what you actually wear. The images will look more like your family if the clothes do.
- Choose a loose colour palette rather than matching outfits
- Avoid large logos or text across the chest
- Bring a change of top for children if the session is long
- Comfortable shoes matter for outdoor sessions on uneven ground
On the day
Arrive a few minutes early rather than rushing. The session does not start the moment you walk in. There is usually a few minutes of settling time, a cup of tea if you want one, a chance to look around the space before anything is asked of you.
If a child is having a difficult morning, say so. The session can be adjusted. It is not a performance.
The best family portraits are usually the ones where nobody is trying very hard. That is what the pace of the session is designed to allow.