As a luxury Key Biscayne photographer, my goal is to give you more than nice pictures. I want your entire photography experience to be memorable in the best way possible, and for your finished artwork to reflect your family’s experience and unique character. But if you’re a parent of young kiddos, you may be worried that a family photoshoot will be more stressful than enjoyable. Trust me, that doesn’t need to be the case! Here are my tips to guarantee that you get fun family photos that are beautiful and true to you.
Be Patient
Young children have tons of energy, and they like to push the limits. Especially when they’re in an unfamiliar environment, doing something out of the ordinary, they may not cooperate every single second. And that’s okay! Don’t get frustrated with your kiddos during the shoot. We want all of you to look back on these photos and have great memories of your experience. So be patient, and know that I have lots of tricks up my sleeve to get beautiful portraits on the sly.
Play Games and Be Silly
One of my tricks to keep young kids engaged is to play games. This keeps things moving and makes it more likely that your children will cooperate when it’s time to pose. They love getting these fun little breaks, and those silly moments can even provide opportunities for fun candid shots.
Take Breaks When Needed
While we’ll do everything we can to make your family photos fun, there are no guarantees when it comes to kids! If your child is straight-up misbehaving and you feel like you need to pull them aside for a chat, that’s totally fine. In addition to being a Key Biscayne photographer, I’m also a mom of three, so…been there, done that!
Use Bribes
Bribery tends to work great for kids three and up. If your children are reluctant to participate or you feel like they’ll need an extra incentive to follow directions during the session, there’s nothing wrong with promising a fun treat afterwards. Ice cream, anyone?
Come Prepared
In order to get fun family photos, it’s important to make sure that you and your family are feeling your best when you show up for your session. Make sure everyone is well rested and fed, and get an early start so you don’t have to stress about timing. You can also bring along a few toys, snacks, or whatever else you feel will help your kiddos stay focused or come back fresh if they need a quick break. (Avoid messy snacks/bribes like chocolate. Fruit snacks tend to be a good choice.)
Have Realistic Expectations
While there’s nothing wrong with getting some inspiration for your fun family photos from Pinterest or Instagram, remember that this is YOUR family we’re trying to capture. If we spend all our time trying to recreate someone else’s shot you saw on social media, we’ll miss out on those sweet, natural moments that would have happened if we had let the session flow naturally. Just focus on having a great time with the people you love most, and your family photo session will be amazing!
Fun Family Photos – Key Biscayne Photographer
Hi there and thank you for stopping by! I’m Melissa, owner of Melissa Arlena Photography, a family and maternity photographer specializing in young and growing families in South Florida. I hope you found my “Key Biscayne Photographer for Fun Family Photos” feature I shared today to be helpful. If you are interested in talking with me more about booking a family session, let’s connect! Not quite ready, but know you want to keep me in your back pocket? No problem! Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Melissa Arlena is an award winning South Florida Master newborn & maternity photographer. She offers maternity, lifestyle newborn, and family photography in her relaxed, natural, and joyful style. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. She is happy to design custom wall art galleries to show off your favorite photos! Be sure to check out the Nov 21 issue of Inspired magazine to see a feature on Melissa and her work!
Melissa serves Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties including: Boca Raton | Cooper City | Coral Gables | Key Biscayne | Miami Shores | Palm Beach | Palmetto Bay
