Preparing Your Family for their Closeup with Your Massachusetts Portrait Photographer

Three generations at once for Plymouth, MA family portrait - Photo by Ryan Richardson Photography

You’ve finally managed to find a spot that works between soccer practice and dance classes, now it’s time to think about how to get the most from your family portrait session with Ryan Richardson Photography. While you can trust me to take great pictures, what’s the best way to get everyone ready for their closeup?

The Months Ahead:

Do your best to get everyone on board with the session - it’s easy to get everyone to cooperate when it’s something they’re excited about. So how do you get your team excited to get in front of the camera? Pick a location they love or that includes a lot of activities - maybe it’s the local playground, a petting zoo, or just the beach. You don’t have to have your photos taken at a fussy studio to get great results. If no location springs to mind then consider centering the shoot around a theme or activity that your family loves. Maybe your kids are really into super heroes? Or you have one kid that would love to be a princess? The only limit is what you can find on Esty for fun costume ideas. Bribery can also work.

Are there any special images you’re looking for? Get a little inspiration board together and share it with your family and photographer, it will make recreating it a lot easier. Ahead of the shoot you’ll also want to make a list of any props or special items that you’ll need for the shoot - need a big sign? A certain stuffed animal? Gotta see a man about a horse? Make sure you have enough time to round up all the things that you’re going to need.

The Week Before:

Plan outfits for the shoot in advance of the day and set them aside so you don’t have to scramble to find them on the day. As we’ve noted above, as a creative lifestyle photographer, we like to let our subjects march to the beat of their own drums and have found that it’s easier to get some family members excited and invested in the shoot if they feel in charge of their fit. A good compromise is to either give them guidelines or set out outfits to choose from if the yellow rain boots and dinosaur pajamas don’t quite go with the mood you want to set. Accessories and options for the shoot can be great too - if you do want to do the matching shirts thing, pack those for everyone to throw on toward the end of the shoot.

Immediately Before:

The night before the shoot you want to do your best so everyone has a good night of sleep (I know sometimes that’s easier said than done). Pack a bag for the shoot that has any props or accessories you’ll need for the shoot, snacks, drinks, and a touch up kit (brush, tide pen, safety pins, and hair ties). Before you get to the shoot you want to be sure everyone has been fed and watered so that they’re at their best when it’s time to start the shoot.

What are your tips for getting your family ready? Do you have an idea for a great family portrait shoot with Ryan Richardson Photograph? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or schedule your session today.

Ryan Richardson is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Boston and beyond; including Cape Cod Weddings, New England Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings and Rhode Island Weddings.