TIPS TO HELP YOU PREP FOR AN OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR FAMILY PORTRAITS

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU PREP FOR AN OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR FAMILY PORTRAITS

Spring is here and it’s the perfect time to get the kids outside and showcase your growing family with some nice portraits. Flowers are starting to bloom and the trees are finally turning green. Take advantage of Corn Creek, Mount Charleston or Spring Mountain or any of your favorite hang out locations with beautiful nature backdrop!

1. CHOOSE A LOCATION WITH LOTS OF ROOM TO ROAM

Corn Creek, Mount Charleston or Spring Mountain are great locations for the family portraits! Kids love to run around, and happy kids make for better photos. So don’t choose a place where the kids aren’t allowed to run on the grass, touch things or have a lot of rules to follow. Let the kids explore a little bit, find places that they enjoy and keep their interest, and take advantage of these moments. Choosing a spacious location also helps to keep random people from getting in your photos because you can move to the less crowded spots.

2. START WITH YOUR POSED PORTRAITS

Kids get dirty fast and their attention spans are short. We’ve seen them run through sprinklers, skin knees and mess up their hair climbing trees within minutes of arriving and before a single photo has been taken. Get the whole family together from the outset to guarantee at least a few hang-on-your-wall-worthy photos. Don’t be afraid to bribe the kids with play time if they can make a nice smile in the beginning.

3. BRING A BLANKET

Getting a shot of the family lying down can be a really great pose, but it’s helpful if you’re comfortable/not getting dirty. Bring a blanket with you from home that you can lay down on. Choose a blanket with minimal patterns and solid colors if possible to avoid drawing attention away from your subjects.

4. HAVE A DISTRACTION

Kids can often get antsy or bored while taking photos. So bring toys, drinks and snacks. A set of cones for tag or a ball to kick around can bring out some genuine smiles and fun action shots. As a parent you know best what keeps your kid’s attention, so make sure to bring those with you to the shoot. Snacks and drinks prevent premature meltdowns and keep everyone hydrated on hot days here in Las Vegas. For very young children, holding a toy while you are shooting or having someone else help turn their attention toward the camera can be the only way to get a child to take a good photo.

5. BE PATIENT 

If you are parent, you know that working with children requires some patience. Yes working, not parenting lol Do not expect the kids to respect your and our schedule. Allow time for breaks for eating, crying, exploring… and for them to just be kids.

8. POSING - this one is on us 

We shall give you and the kids a very specific directions. We make it into a challenge for the kids. So it turns into a game, and they think it is fun and they will be more likely to keep their attention focused on what they need to accomplish.

Do you have any other tips for photographing families outdoors? Kindly fill in the comment box! 

Hopefully, this sheds some light on the topic as to how you can prep for an outstanding outdoor family photography  session. For any more questions you may have or to book a family portrait session , I’d love to hear from you!