I can very vividly remember the anticipation of school picture day, and the mild sense of panic that always seemed to accompany it. Some kids seemed to have gotten it down; somehow they always managed to put together the coolest looking outfits, their hair was perfect, and the photographer managed to capture them looking their very best. Alas, I never was one of those kids.
Sometimes when I talk to clients I get the feeling that they have the same sense of taking a shot in the dark when it comes to planning for upcoming photo shoots. I certainly can relate; outfit planning and posing myself for pictures has never been one of my fortes. Let me try to ease a bit of concern, though, by laying out a few things to consider when planning for your photo shoot.
1. Don’t worry about looking perfect for the pictures. I said it. Obviously, you want to feel presentable and confident, but it’s not your job to be picture perfect. That would be my job-the photographer’s. The reason you hire me is to make you look good in these pictures; otherwise, I would be unnecessary. So it’s my problem to worry about lighting, poses, flyaway hairs, awkward hands and closed eyes. If you receive your pictures and don’t feel good about them, that would be on me. So that should be one thing off your shoulders. I say all this because I have been on photo shoots where parents can’t stop worrying about how they and their children look. Sometimes, I can be in the midst of capturing a kid in their element, but miss the shot as Mom rushes in to fix a hair that is out of place. There’s certainly a time and place to look completely put together, but there is something even more beautiful about capturing your family being yourselves. If you look through my pictures, you’ll notice that I take a lot of candid shots. Expect a large part of your session to be spent playing. If that’s not what you are looking for, consider hiring a strictly studio photographer. However, if you have ideas for certain shots you want to get, definitely let me know! I love hearing client’s ideas and visions for the photo shoot, but preferably through correspondence prior to your actual photo shoot. If we brainstorm before, it will take another thing off your shoulders and give you more of a sense of being prepared.
2. Planning a location: There is a reason I love to push to try to get clients to schedule fall photo sessions. It is such a great time of year! I love that first crisp Autumn day when there is a slight chill in the air, but is not yet too cold. It takes me back to days of football and concession stands, Homecoming mums and cowbells (you might only get that reference if you’re from Texas), hot chocolate and frito pies. Autumn to me brings a sense of comfort; warm sweaters, chunky knits, leaves of warm and vibrant shades. This is the essence I hope to evoke in photo shoots this time of year. When choosing a location, look for places that show off this season’s strong imagery. For example, I know of a few disc golf courses in the area that have gorgeous trails where the trees and colors are absolutely beautiful. Things to be on the lookout for include: lots of traditional fall colors, golden grasses, last bits of wildflowers, hay bales, pumpkins, barns or trails, etc. I also love to take pictures at places where families love hanging out; parks are great for catching kids being themselves, petting zoos, bike trails, etc. If your family loves a place, there’s a great chance we’re going to get some natural and great shots, as well. Sometimes, simplicity works great, too. My last photo shoot was shot in the family’s backyard, right in their comfort zone. And the picture at the top was taken under a tree right outside our local library; it was the only colorful tree we could find in the immediate area that day, but it still worked great. Basically, moral of the story: brainstorm what images you hope to evoke, and plan out 2 or 3 possibilities. Sometimes weather and life just don’t work in our favor on the day of the shoot, so having backup locations is always a good idea.
2. Planning a time: If you’ve ever hired a photographer who shoots outdoors before, you’ve probably already heard it. There is a magical hour that exists for photographers about an just before sunset. If the sun is out, it casts a gorgeous golden light and is just perfect for portrait photography. Usually, I try to schedule for this hour if we are doing outdoor shoots. It really is best on sunny days; cloudy days leave it open where anytime will work. I understand that flexibility is not always an option, especially if you have small children where naps and bedtimes come into play. I will certainly do my best to be flexible, but I highly recommend trying to reserve the hour or two before sunset if possible. The bonus of scheduling fall sessions is this hour does not fall too late in the day this time of year!
3. Planning your outfits : I’ve addressed portions of this topic in similar posts, so if you haven’t already checked out my general guidelines for planning a family shoot, take a look on my family pricing page. Now to talk the specifics of autumn. First of all, make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Temperatures at this time of year can be unpredictable at best. If it’s a chilly day, make sure you wear the layers necessary to keep you warm for an hour or two outdoors. Bundling up in the Chicago area does not always evoke images of beautiful outfits, so here are a few suggestions.
Start with your base layer (the layer above long underwear, if you’re wearing it :-). This can be your typical outfit: jeans, long sleeve t-shirt or sweaters. This is the layer where you want to coordinate the dark/light, patterns/neutrals, complimentary colors that I’ve talked about in some of my other posts. By itself, this layer can be pretty boring. So we add a second layer. This consists of cardigans, sweater vests for guys, etc. You still want that first layer to be visible; this just adds a bit of warmth and interest. Finally, the third layer is piled on. This is where you can think about adding complimentary scarves, hats, gloves, boots, open jackets…whatever appeals to you and is appropriate with the weather. I do a lot of snooping around the internet for ideas on putting together family outfits, and I notice that the ones that seem the coziest and hold the most interest seem to follow this pattern of 3 layered outfits. To go along with the autumn theme, think chunky knits and warm tones as well.
I hope this guide helps to get your creativity juices flowing. These are not always the most natural things to consider, but a little bit of planning can go a long way to making a polished finished product. For some additional ideas, please check out my pinterest page (link at the top of the page); I have compiled some What to Wear boards that might be of some help. Finally, check out design-seeds.com for ideas on nice color combos that will hopefully work with colors you already have in your wardrobes. As always, if you ever need help planning, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Christina Freeman Photography specializes in family, newborn, children and maternity portraits in Glenview, IL and surrounding areas including Evanston, Wilmette, Northbrook, Des Plaines, Lake Forest, Winnetka, Lake Bluff, Highland Park, Skokie, Northfield and other North Shore Chicago suburbs.