By Gina Tagliarino
Editor's note: Some photos in the print version of this story were incorrectly attributed. We apologize for the error.
Oh, fall. How we love you with your football, fair food...and family photos? Well maybe not that one so much. It's that time of year again, where moms, dads, kids, and even pets gather together to snap a few (fingers crossed) print-worthy memories to share with friends and family or to showcase on the annual holiday card. If you've always dreaded family photos, let us assure you: They don't have to be stressful. Dare we say, they can even be fun.
Make this the season to love your photo session with pointers from some of our area's top photographers. You may even find yourself looking forward to your next family photo shoot.
Pick a Perfect Photographer
With today's Instagram filters and budding amateur photographers garnering hundreds of likes from a single snap, you might wonder if you need a professional. If you want only a few snaps for social media, then probably not. But if you're seeking a timeless treasure to share with family, display in your home and look back on fondly for years to come, the answer is undoubtedly yes.
Local mom of four, Courtney Burns, decided to find a photographer for her family photos when she realized it was becoming impossible to get her children to all look in the same direction as the camera, yet alone with a photo-ready look on their faces. She chose BluDoor Studios to help her capture the precious moments in her family's life and hasn't looked back once over the past seven years.
"They are creative and work to make our request a reality, no matter how zany it is," Burns says. "I consistently get compliments on our Christmas cards because they are always unique and creative." Professional photographers can also help bring out the best in an individual or family, especially if one might be averse to having his or her photo taken.
For Kathy White, she found that entrusting her son's portraits to LUCE Photography was one of the best decisions she could have made. "First, let me say that my son is 17 years old, she and modest, and not excited about doing portraits at all," White says. "Sarah Goucher (of LUCE Photography) was able to make him feel comfortable and relaxed, which led to fantastic portraits. I was so pleased with how she brought out his smile and personality.” So how do you find the photographer that’s right for your family? Burns recommends talking to photographers about your ideas before booking a session. “If they can’t get behind your vision for your pictures, move on to someone else,” she advises.
Dress for the Occasion
One of the most pondered questions for any outing is, “What should I wear?” But when it comes to a family photo session, you're not only deciding what you should wear for the day, but for years to come as your memories live on your walls or in frames throughout your home. While you certainly don't want to look like a cloned family from a home catalog, there are a few tips to consider when selecting clothing. “We tell families to avoid bold patterns or large stripes, as these distract from the faces,” says photographer Mike Krause of BluDoor Studios. “We also prefer color. Sometimes families think it is easier to wear white or black, but coordinating colors and simple patterns make the most interesting photographs.” Photographer Thaddeus Harden advises that families dress up for photos, rather than fall into the temptation of wearing their normal daily attire. “In this day of everyday casual, taking the time to think about what you’re wearing and putting some finesse and style into your choices goes a long way toward creating an iconic image,” Harden says. “The more thought you put into your style, the better the outcome. Very few subjects really can stand out when they don't take the time to add a little (or a lot) of flair to their style for a shoot." He also suggests that families coordinate on a color, theme or location that works to set up their unique identity for the photo. Photographer Sarah Goucher of LUCE Photography agrees. “A good rule of thumb is to choose a neutral and a pop of color that will flow throughout the outfits to tie them together,” she says.
Hone in on When and Where
Almost as important as what you'll be wearing for your photos is when and where you'll be taking them. As luck would have it, autumn is the perfect time to schedule them. “Cooler weather lends itself to more options, with the changing of the leaves, better clothing choices and the anticipation of the holidays,” Krause says. Goucher agrees that autumn is a great time for family pho-tos, not only for weather conditions, but also to avoid rushing to squeeze in sessions for holiday cards and the other demands brought on by the season. Deciding where to take your photos can be a personal decision, many times based on a location that's sentimental to your fam-ily. Don't have anything in mind? Krause recommends Bob Jones Nature Center, the parks along Lake Grapevine and Colleyville's parks, while Harden suggests a few less traditional routes, finding inspiration in cars, buses, streets, homes, kitchens, pools, barns and fields. “I'm always exploring, always open to new possibilities with every shoot,” Harden says. Prefer not to risk nature's elements? Choose a photographer who comes to your home or offers an in-studio option. This is often ideal when including young children in photos, who may require feedings, naps or whose overall mood of the moment may dictate the personality of the photo.
Capture Picture-Perfect Moments
Life isn't always perfect, so why should your photos be? Remember that as much as you want your toddler to smile for the camera, it might not be in the cards. Which is not only okay—but can actually result in unforgettable moments. “The biggest mistake clients make is trying to be perfect and making it stressful for the family,” Krause says. “Let the kids be kids!” Goucher agrees that overthinking the session and wor-rying too much about the outcome can backfire. “We know children are unpredictable and many of the best photos come from the unplanned spontaneous moments,” she says. But for all the spontaneity, photographers still recom-mend planning ahead to avoid stress. Know where you are going, what you're going to wear and when everyone needs to be there. Above all else, when it comes to getting your family together for a photo session, a sense of humor and a relaxed state of mind is key. “Sometimes the best images aren't the ones where every-one is looking at the camera and smiling,” Krause says. “Showing how a family interacts and laughs are some of the greatest memories we capture.” A day spent laughing with your family for the sake of cre-ating lasting memories? That's something to smile about.
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