Holiday Photoshoot Tips & Tricks for Families with Kids (and camera shy Husbands!)
Hey Mamas! For those of you who have been following my family/ lifestyle blog for a while now will know we usually have a Holiday photoshoot (It’s tradition)…
So, if you are looking for:
Some cute outdoor family photoshoot ideas
What to wear to a family photoshoot
General tips and tricks on how to keep the little ones happy then keep reading mama…
We had this shoot done on our Summer Trip to Nantucket back in August and I LOVE how they turned out. Mom tip: get dressed up and head to the beach and you’re bound to find a kind stranger willing to take some photos!
Photo credit: random Instagram girlie on the beach
If your family is refusing a photoshoot, get your glad rags on and you can recruit a friendly looking stranger on the beach when you get there… I always offer a photo back to say thanks! 📸
5 tips and tricks to help mamas organise (and stay sane) during a family shoot!
tip number 1 - Don’t expect perfect!
I will always give a round of applause to any mama who can get those picture perfect moments of little ones looking directly into the camera smiling! (They must be using some kind of magic right?! 😉) Trying to get those perfect shots can often make your kids bored and become more difficult as the shoot goes on...
👉My pro tip would be to PLAY. There is nothing better then looking back at photos of your kids laughing and smiling. Live in the moment! At this shoot we danced, we ran, we threw the kids in the air. They had a great time and it shows in the photos.
Tip number 2 - Location
Let’s be real for a minute, I love having a family photoshoot! My husband on the other-hand does not want to have photos taken in front of loads of people, I get it, not everyone wants to stand there smiling with lots of people walking past! When picking a location I like to look for somewhere that I know all of us will feel comfortable.
👉My Pro tip I have found the perfect locations for these type of shoots are; beaches, forests, on the water or even at home. They are not too busy, so you don’t have to worry about being around lots of people and your photographer won’t have to spend time photoshopping people out of shot.
tip number 3 - outfits
Now time for the fun part, styling! When I find the perfect location for the shoot I can move on to picking the outfits…. EEEK!
For this shoot we was outdoors surrounded by pampas grass. Straight away I hoped online and started looking for nudes, pinks & earthy tones! These colors really complimented the surroundings.
👉My Pro tip Nude/ Natural tones are always a great place to start when picking outfits, you can then add splashes of color that match your surroundings. Pick one piece from everyone’s outfit to co-ordinate. Aura’s dress matched Tudor’s tie which matched my dress.
You can also shop the looks 👇
Tip Number 4 - A little Snack goes a long way
Is there anything worse then trying to get photos of a hangry toddler? We bring lots of snacks for the kids to enjoy, keep those energy levels up and those hangry levels down! Snacks I would opt for: their water bottles, lollipops, gummy fruits & fruit strips. Of course they were treated to ice cream after the shoot.
👉My Pro tip Make sure you think about the snacks before grabbing the first thing out of the cupboard… chocolate melts fast in those small hands! You might risk the outfits being stained mid shoot! 🙈
Tip number 5 - kid bribes!
Yep I am that mom! Tell me a mama who doesn’t promise a trip to the toy store or to go get ice cream?😉 When we set off on route to the location we told the kids if they behave then after we would take a trip to Target. It worked!! With no major meltdowns we got through the shoot and the kids were so happy with a new toy each.
👉My Pro tip A cheap toy won’t break the bank but it meant they were rewarded for their good behavior, and I was one happy mama.
If you’re thinking of planning a family photoshoot but want some advice, outfit ideas, I am more than happy to offer some advice mama to mama! Drop me an email at lynn@goldwestvintage.com Don’t forget to keep me updated with how the photos turn out 🤩