As a Christchurch family photographer, I’ve photographed all sorts of families over the years, and along the way I’ve picked up plenty of little things that can make a family photo session feel easier and help you get the most out of it. So I’ve pulled together a few of my best tips for before and during your session, from what to wear and how to prepare the kids, to what actually helps once we get started.
Keep the lead-up low pressure
It can definitely help to let your kids know what’s happening before your session, particularly if they’re a little shy or take some time to warm up to new people. I usually recommend keeping it really casual: “We’re going to hang out with Katie for a little while and she’s going to take some photos of us.” Try not to put too much emphasis on needing to behave, listen or smile nicely for the camera, but instead get them excited about going to hang out and explore our chosen location. It’s also worth making sure everyone has eaten before you arrive. Family sessions often fall around dinner time, and hangry kids (and hangry adults!) are never a particularly great recipe for an enjoyable evening.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there so you don’t feel frantic and rushed from the start, I find the kids pick up on the anxiety! And I say this as someone who has never once managed to get my own family to a photoshoot without some level of pre-session losing it 😂 So I appreciate that it can be easier said than done, but the main thing is just to try and keep the whole lead-up as low pressure as possible.
Choose clothes you can actually enjoy yourselves in
What you wear absolutely makes a difference to how your photos look, but comfort matters too. Choose clothes that you feel great in, but that still allow you to sit on the ground, pick up your kids, walk, cuddle and move around without constantly worrying about what you’re wearing. The same goes for the kids. If you’re spending the entire session having to readjust clothing, it’s going to be much harder for everyone to relax.
I know you'll spend heaps of time thinking about what everyone else is wearing, but don't forget about your own outfit too. Pick something you feel really good in, you’re just as important in these photos as everyone else. I can be helpful to plan everyones outfits around what will tie in with what you're wanting to wear.
One thing I’ve learned as a Christchurch family photographer is to always recommend bringing more layers than you think you’ll need. Even after a beautiful warm day, it can cool down really quickly once the sun starts disappearing, so think merino underlayers and avoid bare skin in the cooler months. Jackets and blankets can stay tucked away while we’re shooting, but you’ll be very glad you have them if somebody starts getting cold!
I’ll send out a full session guide when you book with me with lots more tips around clothing choices and what looks good together, and I’m always happy to help if you want some guidance too.
What to bring to your session
You definitely don’t need to bring half the house with you, but a few things are handy to have with you just in case. Water and a couple of non-messy snacks are always a good idea, particularly for little ones. Think something that isn’t going to leave sticky hands, orange crumbs or chocolate smeared across the beautiful outfit you spent three weeks planning!
If you’ve got a baby or toddler, I’d also throw a backup outfit in the car. Hopefully it stays there, but between poo-splosions, car sickness and general mystery toddler grime, its best to have something extra just in case. Some parents change their children into their outfits once they get to the location, which also works well.
If your little one has a favourite teddy, blanket or comfort item, you are so welcome to bring that along too. There is always the risk that Teddy decides he’d like to be included in every photo, but I’d much rather they have something that helps them feel comfortable. We can usually pop it away once they’ve warmed up, or embrace it for a few photos. Sometimes those favourite little things are such a big part of this stage that you’ll be glad to have them documented.
Make sure you have a quick check before you leave the house that you’ve actually got everything you intended to bring. Shoes, extra layers, nappies, wipes, comfort items — whatever your family might need. It sounds obvious until you’re halfway there and realise somebody’s nice shoes are still sitting by the front door!
Let the kids be kids
This might be the biggest one. Your kids absolutely do not need to sit still and smile for me, I promise I won't make them do that for an hour. During my family photography sessions in Christchurch, we move, we walk, play games, run races, cuddle, explore and generally embrace a bit of chaos. I’ll still make sure we get those beautiful classic family portraits where everyone is together, but there’s a whole lot more to your gallery than that. Even if your child is doing something you’re not quite sure about, if I tell you it’s fine, trust me and roll with it for a bit. Sometimes the thing that feels a little too much to you is giving me exactly what I need.
And if the wheels really start to fall off, try not to panic. We can give the kids a break and let them blow off some steam, change what we’re doing if they’re not enjoying it, or pull out one of the many tricks and games I’ve gathered over the years. We don’t have to force something that isn’t working.
It's really normal for little ones to need a bit of time to warm up. Not every kid is going to arrive and immediately be ready to hang out with a stranger holding a camera, and that’s completely fine. Some kids are straight in there, while others want to stay close to Mum or Dad for a while, have a look around, suss me out and figure out what on earth is going on. We don’t need to rush that bit — in fact, I expect it. And if you know your child takes a while to warm up, tell me beforehand. I can give them a bit more space at the beginning, let them come to me and avoid putting too much attention on them until they’re ready.
Enjoy your family and trust the process
Once your session starts, your biggest job is really just to enjoy your family. You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to keep checking whether everyone is standing in the right place. And you definitely don’t need to worry about whether I’m getting enough good photos. That’s my job.
Some of the prompts I give you might sound completely ridiculous, but quite often the thing I’ve asked you to do isn’t even the photograph I’m waiting for. It’s what happens afterwards — the kids cracking up, the way Mum and Dad look at each other when their little man has just said something extra cute, or the way your toddler melts into you when you pick them up. That’s the stuff I’m looking for as a Christchurch family photographer.
The goal isn’t to create an hour where your family suddenly becomes perfectly behaved and photogenic. It’s to make beautiful photographs of your family exactly as you are — all the connection, personalities, giggles and silliness included.
Just bring your people and I’ll take care of the rest ❤️
Looking for a Christchurch family photographer?
If you want a family session that feels relaxed, playful and genuinely like your family, you can find out more about my family photography sessions in Christchurch here.
Or, if you’d like to have a nosy at what I’ve been photographing lately, you can see more of my recent work on Instagram here.
Can't wait to meet you!
Katie x
