Hey Photographer friends!
There are 3 mistakes you might be making RIGHT now in your family photo sessions. Take a look at these common mistakes and see if you can tighten some things up so that your family sessions flow better!
ONE - You are not prepared for the session itself
Maybe you have not communicated with the clients enough beforehand. Perhaps you don’t even know everyone’s names. Yikes! It is important to have several points of contact with your clients before the session so that you can get started right away and so the session runs smoothly. One way to combat this common problem is a simple pre-session questionnaire. I use the forms feature on my Squarespace website to build a simple questionnaire that asks some questions about the family dynamics, what makes them laugh, what’s special between them, and so on. Knowing some of this info before the session can help you to better capture what is truly important to the family.
Two - shooting at any time of day
Make no mistake, there are MANY photographers that can absolutely nail mid-day, full sun sessions. But they are breaking certain “rules” with intent and purpose and with an artistic vision. Ask most photographers, and they will tell you they prefer the “golden hour” - that delicious, warm and soothing hour just before sunset. The sun is soft and the light is flattering. Photographers - if clients tell you their kids can’t stay up that late,, try your best to educate them WHY a golden hour session will produce the most gorgeous images. Maybe even show a before and after of a mid-day image vs. a sunset image. It’s not everyday that people dress their family up for photos, so be the expert here and prep your clients so they understand the benefits in the long run!
three- not prepping your clients
Clients hire you for the images they see you produce. But it’s still important that they understand how a lifestyle session will flow. Clothing is also an important aspect of the final look of their images so I always work with my clients on wardrobe. I send a simple “What to Wear “ guide when a client books and also communicate via text. Often times, I’ll have clients lay the clothing suggestions out and text me a pic for feedback.