Family Photoshoot at Hellyer Park

Family Photoshoot at Hellyer Park | Lauren

Over the last several years, I have had the opportunity to work with Lauren and her family on a few family portrait sessions. Here are some of the images we captured of their family photoshoot at Hellyer Park.

What is the Ideal Session Length For Children?

---

For family portraits, I offer 30 or 60 minute sessions. I find that 30 minutes is a good length of time for most children; however, this is not always the case because every child is different. For example, some children take 15-20 minutes to warm up and feel comfortable taking pictures. Others are really excited right off of the bat. Whether or not they have had a nap is also a key factor 🙂 When scheduling your session, it is important to try to schedule the session around a time that you know your child will be most engaged.

Kids Just Want to Have Fun

---

When working with children, the important thing to understand is that they are not going to stand there and just smile for the camera – without a genuine reason to 🙂 I have a hard time getting adults to smile – let alone children! With that being said, getting shots where your child is being thrown in the air, being tickled, or on top of Dad’s shoulders, etc. is what it usually takes.

Chances are that you know what will work the best for your child – so be prepared to use some of these techniques.

“Earthy” Colors Work Well For Outdoor Portraits

---

The most important thing to consider when coordinating your outfits for family portraits – is that you are comfortable and confident. Throughout the shoot, we will be walking, sitting, kneeling, etc. and you want to be comfortable doing these poses. If you plan on wearing heels for some of the pictures – make sure to bring a pair of shoes you can walk from spot-to-spot in. As far as colors go, earthy colors like browns, blues, and greens work really well for outdoor portraits – but any color scheme will work fine 😉 Just having everyone wearing the same color or style of outfit will make a huge difference in how the images appear.

If you are planning a family portrait session, I would love to connect with you. The best way to reach me is through the contact form on my website. Thanks!