How Often Should You Take Family Portraits?

How Often Should You Take Family Portraits? – Four Ideas On Making Family Portraits A Yearly Event

Family portraits are one of the best ways that you can celebrate milestones and document your family throughout the years. It is something that you will never regret doing and that gains value and meaning as time goes on. Some of my favorite clients to work with schedule family portraits on a yearly basis and I enjoy seeing their family grow over the years. But how often should you take family portraits? I believe that taking family portraits each year or every other year is a great place to start. Here are four ideas on how you can make family portraits a regular activity for you and your family.

It’s Never Too Late To Start A New Tradition

If you’ve never taken family portraits, I believe that it is never too late to start a new tradition. Whether you are a family with a toddler, or a family with older children, you can start including family portraits into your yearly calendar of events. I recommend scheduling family portraits, and doing something fun afterwards. This can be something as simple as going to lunch/dinner after the session. Or it can be a fun activity like bowling, miniature golf, or going to the movies. If you plan family portraits and something fun afterwards, it can be a fun tradition that your entire family looks forward to each year.

Schedule The Session Around An Important Time of The Year

Answering the question of how often should you take family portraits can also focus on an important time of the year. Most families take annual family portraits around the Holiday’s. This is why October and November are the busiest months of the year for family portraits. At this time of the year, fall colors on the trees make for a beautiful setting. However, I would also consider other times of the year. For example, scheduling the session around the time of someone’s birthday.

Do Something Fun With The Pictures

Another way to make family portraits something that you look forward to doing each year is by doing something fun with the pictures. One of the most popular ways to use family portraits is by sending out Holiday or New Year’s cards. But the pictures can also be used to make a yearly photo book. The photo book can be used as a gift and other more casual pictures that are taken throughout the year can be included in the photo book. I also encourage people to make prints to decorate your home and office.

If Possible, Schedule The Session With Extended Family

Last but not least, I would also consider including extended family to the session. If family is coming in town for the Holiday’s, this is the perfect time to schedule the session. As people get older, this can get harder-and-harder. However, if you make family portraits a yearly tradition, it can be something that your entire family looks forward to 🙂

Hopefully this brief article on how often should you take family portraits has ben helpful. Thanks!