Preparing for the Big Cheese – Family Photos

It was Family Photo time at my house as it has been almost 2 years since we have taken a family photo. So, I did my homework in order to ensure that things went smoothly! Here’s my short and easy checklist for preparing for Family Photos!

Choose a photographer

Meet Catherine, a Multimedia Coordinator and Graphic Designer, who loves capturing incredible visual moments! She is also a friend of our family. We attend the same church and we actually met on an annual retreat that our church hosts for married couples. She’s a sweetheart and when I found out that she was a photographer, I knew I wanted her to take our photos. It was great working with her for this shoot. She was very open to hearing ideas that I researched, while being sure to include her expertise during the shoot. Connect with Catherine on her website, Catherine’s Photography and on Facebook!

Choose a location

You can allow your photographer to find the location or research a location on your own. For us, Catherine mentioned the Rose Garden in the area and after viewing it online, I knew it would be the perfect location. I knew I wanted the photos to be taken outdoors; the studio photo sessions that we’d taken before had seemed so ‘stuffy’ and limited to the ‘everyday’ posey pose type photos and I wanted something different this time around. The Rose Gardens were beautiful…I must return to take more photos for my own personal portfolio!

Choose Attire

For me, the goal for picking out clothes for everyone was that I wanted everyone to be comfortable, look great and for us to look cohesive (like a family unit) without being too matchy matchy! I figured that the boys would be easier to dress so I started putting the look together based on a dress that I had already in the closet.  From that dress, I began brainstorming what everyone else would wear…which became different shades and gradients of the color of that particular dress. It worked well!

Compile Photo Shoot Ideas

Again, since I knew that I didn’t want the studio posey pose type of photo session, I researched family photo ideas on Pinterest and created a board just for that purpose. I wanted to incorporate some candid shots along with some semi posed shots. And with having a 2-year-old that didn’t quite want to cooperate; changes in the scenery and candid shots was perfect.

{Photo via dkwstyling.com on Pinterest}

I’m so Super excited about our photos and can’t wait to share them with you!!! So stay tuned!

Please let me know if you found this article helpful!

Linking up with Her and Nicole and Squishable Baby and My Thrifty Chic!