Family photoshoot: Everything you need to know.
All of the things you need to know about booking a family photoshoot, and more besides. Here goes…
Where should we have a family photoshoot?
My recommendation here is that you choose somewhere familiar to you, a favourite park, a walk that you usually do on a Sunday morning, your favourite beach or in your own home and garden is perfect! I can join you on a family day out at a funfair, shopping, going out for ice cream… Whatever floats your boat, i’m happy to come along with you and capture all of the fun family togetherness. If you need some ideas based on where you live or would like to visit Yorkshire, I have lots of ideas, so just ask and we can come up with a plan together.
What sort of things should we do to get the most natural photographs?
It’s always a good idea to have some activities planned, this really helps to get everyone engaged and relaxed and allows me to capture some wonderful interactions and natural moments. Whether it's playing a game, cooking together, or going for a walk, incorporating these activities into your family photoshoot play a huge part in celebrating the laughter, the tears and the shared experiences that truly make your family unique.
So, there’s no need to feel awkward or hang around wondering what to do, there’s an extensive list that have prepared here but there’s a few examples below, and feel free to suggest your own and we can plan a day to remember!
Get the crafts out (bubble paint, play doh, paints, chalk… the messier the better!).
Fly a kite in the park.
A day at the seaside (yes I can meet you there - as long as I can join you for Fish and Chips afterwards!).
Frisbee, football, volleyball, tennis, any kind of ball game at the local park or beach.
Water fights, water guns, water balloons, hose pipe fun!
Face paint, finger paint, paint paint everywhere....
Dressing up (yes, let the kids dress up, this can make for brilliant photographs and so much fun!)
Garden games; hula hoop, skipping, hop-skip-jump, tug of war, trampoline.
Roller skating, skateboarding, scooting, biking around a track.
Storytime, reading a bedtime story (lovely for younger children)….
Can we have group family photos?
Yes, lets! I usually take group family photos at the end of the session, when everyone is relaxed around the camera, or if there’s babies / toddlers involved, we’ll do this when they’re most engaged and work around naps. We’ll choose a location that suits everyone best and this can be done swiftly, without a fuss, and in an authentic manner. Bring pets, cuddly toys and anything else that makes up the family you’re lucky enough to call your own.
Often I make more unassuming family portraits throughout the session that are caught in the moment and you may not even know it, waiting in the ice cream queue for example, when everyone is lined up naturally, these can make the most wonderful unplanned family portraits. Often these are the pictures that end up framed and on the wall, or given as gifts as they tell a wonderful story about who you are as a family right now.
What shall we wear for the photography session?
I’m not about to tell anyone what to wear or judge you for not having a matching family set of outfits perfectly ironed and ready for the shoot, absolutely the opposite in fact. Wardrobe choices on the day often become part of the story so the most important thing for me is that you dress like yourself and feel comfortable. If you wake up on the day of the shoot and think, ‘hmm I feel like Spiderman today’, go for it, get that blue and red costume out of the wardrobe and off we go!
Comfort is key during a family documentary photoshoot, when everyone feels at ease in their clothing, they can focus on enjoying the moment and not worrying if their outfit will get covered in paint or bolognese. There’s no need for matchy matchy or special outfits, instead, embrace individuality in clothing choices and allow each family member to be themselves, ok, maybe hide ‘that shirt’ that your partner wears that looks awful, then leave the rest to chance. Whether it's a mix of colours, textures, or styles, variety is the spice of life and it will add visual interest and depth to the images.
On the day of the family photoshoot my focus is all about you, how you connect with each other and what makes you unique as individuals and as a family unit. What you decide to wear isn’t really important in the grand scheme of things, the genuine moments of love, laughter, and togetherness are what define you and if everyone is just themselves, personality will shine through!
What equipment will you bring?
I travel very light in terms of camera equipment, allowing me to be able to run (after children, sometimes on scooters!) and move around easily. I photography mostly with with two mirrorless cameras (Fujifilm) and always bring a back up, spare batteries and memory cards and that’s it! I have a strict system for keeping all of your family photographs safe and download them safely onto my laptop as soon as I arrive home, copied into 4 locations!
As a Yorkshire family photographer how far would you travel?
I’m happy to travel to you wherever you are based in the UK and regularly cover throughout Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Cumbria and London. If you are outside Yorkshire let me know your whereabouts and I can calculate any additional travel costs for you.
How expensive is a family photography session?
I strongly feel like family photography should be accessible to everyone and so I have designed a range of packages to suit most budgets. I offer a family short story session which is 1.5 hours, this is like a taster session into documentary family photography, right through to full day in the life coverage. The family photography packages can be seen in more detail here and if you require something more bespoke just get in touch and we can make that happen.
Have a look at the Family photography taster sessions here:
Do you photograph big family gatherings?
Yes, I love a big old family get together and often photograph big groups of family coming together to celebrate a big occasion, or just to hang out and catch up. If you’re having an event, I have a range of options which all include a family album, you can see more information on event photography here.
How long after the photoshoot will I see the gallery?
I usually say the image gallery will be ready around 4-6 weeks after the photography session, but often it’s much quicker than that and if you need the photographs for a specific date please let me know in advance and i’ll see if I can make that happen. I usually like to wait a week before seeing the photographs that i’ve taken so that I can view them with a fresh perspective, then a lot of time and care goes into editing those photographs into a cohesive story of the session which includes all of the very best images. I process my images to produce a rich, true to life colour and also often deliver a few in black and white too.
Do you shoot video?
I don’t shoot video, I specialise in stills only, however with every half or full day of family photography I make a slideshow for you so that you can watch the highlights of the day along with music! Watch with your favourite friends and family on repeat!
There’s some examples of slideshows that you can watch here.
More questions about family photography…
If you have any more questions that I haven’t covered here do get in touch and i’ll do my best to answer them or pop them in the comments below and i’ll add them to this post as soon as I can!
Book a family photoshoot with Nic
Get in touch to find out about availability or have a chat about your family and requirements, i’d love to hear from you!
Up to 1.5 hours Relaxed Family photography.
Ideal as a taster session into documentary family photography, we can capture a family activity; a walk in the park, baking, or family games perhaps! In the comfort of your home or out and about at your favourite place, it’s your choice!
Let’s capture the time of your lives!
Includes:
10 digital photographs from your curated private online gallery (option to purchase more)
A bespoke design service for fine art products should you wish.
Things to note:
Photography session must be booked within 12 months of purchase.
This session is available in Yorkshire and the surrounding counties only, for locations outside Yorkshire let me know your whereabouts and I can calculate any additional travel costs for you.