If you’re curious about what it’s like to capture family photos for the very first time, I’m sharing insights to provide you with an overview of the entire process. Through the details below, you’ll find step-by-step details on booking, along with answers to those frequently asked questions families often have before they step in front of the camera.
The Booking Process for First-Time Family Photos
Find a Local Family Photographer
Perhaps the most critical step in capturing first-time family photos is finding the right photographer. While cost is often a factor in your consideration, you’ll also need to find a knowledgeable family photographer whom you can trust and whose style closely matches your own.
As you begin your search, when you look at a photographer’s website, do you get a feel for genuine moments that are similar to the ones you and your family share on a day-to-day basis? Or do their photos look like an overly staged production?
Creating images with your family is about capturing the essence of this very moment in time. Do you notice families in a natural setting, such as their home or even a local park, having fun in each other’s presence? Or do the images on the photographer’s site feel inauthentic to who you are and what you know to be true about your own family? If the work depicted on their site doesn’t mimic the experience and final results you are hoping to achieve, then I would encourage you to continue your search.
Inquire
Once you’ve found a local family photographer whose images speak to the heart and soul of your family, take a quick look at their investment page. Here, you’ll be able to find details on what’s included in your photoshoot, along with the starting cost. If everything lines up with your expectations, it’s time to inquire through their contact form.
The families I work with often ask if they’ve inquired too soon or too late. I can safely tell you from experience that it’s never too soon to submit an inquiry. However, in peak seasons such as Spring, Summer, and Holiday, it can sometimes be too late. Even if you feel that you are inquiring in advance, it’s never too early to get your first-time family photos on the calendar, even if your date is tentative.
Schedule a Call
When a family has reached out to me to inquire about a session, I like to then follow up by asking when they have some time to chat further. This allows me to provide you with a more comprehensive overview of my process while leaving space for you to ask any questions you may have about stepping in front of the camera for the first time. You may feel nervous or even apprehensive at the thought of rallying everyone, including the littles, for family photos. My guided process enables us to leave the lines of communication open, long past our initial call, thus ensuring you feel supported and heard every step of the way.
Receive Your Photshoot Prep Guide
After our call, you’ll receive a copy of my family photoshoot prep guide. In it, you’ll find important details to help you prepare your home ahead of our time together (if you’ve opted for an in-home session). Or, if the season is right, you’ll also find information on exploring our preferred location throughout your first time family photos. I’ll also provide you with information on selecting attire and how to get the little ones ready and excited to make memories when the day of your shoot arrives.
Fill Out A Brief Questionnaire
First-time family photos are an important occasion. I want to make the most of your session, ensuring we capture every shot and important detail that is most precious to you. After our call, I will ask that you fill out a (very brief) questionnaire in advance of our session. This will allow me to get to know your family a bit more ahead of our time together. Having these details in hand will give me added insight, driving the focus of your overall experience.
When The Day of Your Session Arrives
Our call is behind us, the questionnaire is filled out, the family is dressed and ready, so what happens next? My approach to family photos is interactive, lifestyle, and documentary. We will capture that quintessential photo of the family all together, filled with joy and warmth while enjoying each other’s company. We’ll also make sure to gather the children together and then with each parent, so that your storytelling family photos offer a variety of candid moments along the way. Gentle guidance will be offered throughout our session. But the highest priority will be given to the interactive moments you spend with your children: playing games, having fun, and being silly for those naturally beautiful smiles.
After Your Session
One of the best parts of finishing your family photoshoot is waiting for the images to arrive. The families I work with receive a slideshow and gallery preview within three weeks of their session. From there, they can select the digital files they enjoy the most, and a print credit to ensure their cherished family memories make their way off the screen and onto the walls of their home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Capturing Family Photos for the First Time
What questions should I ask a family photographer before hiring them?
Having your photos taken together, for the first time together as a family, may feel overwhelming. I welcome and encourage all questions from the families I work with during our initial call. You might be curious about how to keep your little one excited and engaged during the session, have questions about what to wear, or even wonder when you’ll receive your photos and how to print them. I am more than happy to provide insights on any questions that come to mind.
How should we prepare our littles for their first professional photoshoot?
The best way to prepare your littles to have fun in front of the camera is to make sure they’ve had a snack and are well rested. Don’t fret too much about perfect outfits; clothes can rip, stain, or tear, it’s all part of life. Your sweet babies should be comfortable and ready to run around (yes, it’s something I encourage!) and have a blast.
I’m worried my child/children will not sit still. Do you have any advice?
As a family photographer, I never carry an expectation for children to sit still or pose perfectly for the camera. In fact, my approach allows them to move, explore, have fun, and be adventurous throughout the photoshoot. Little ones are naturally curious about the world. That magnificent state of awe and wonder is something to be savored and enjoyed, especially during a photo experience. I know that as parents, you want those quintessential images to hang on the walls of your home. I promise we’ll capture them. Those images will be filled with the happiness your child experiences when they are safe and warm in your arms. Or they’ll depict the moment your little ones shared their vibrant giggle with you when they found something remarkably silly. Those cherished unscripted moments will fill the frame and grace the walls of your home.
Where can we buy matching outfits for first-time family photos?
Purchasing new outfits for your first family photoshoot is not a requirement. I always encourage families to start by looking through their closets. The goal is to find outfits with complementary colors that everyone will feel comfortable in. Your outfits do not have to match, and if we are capturing your photos at home, socks and shoes are not required either. However, if you do want to treat yourself to new attire for the session, then the same rules apply: complementing colors and comfort, not only for you but for your littles as well.
What is the best color to wear for family photos?
Cool neutral tones work beautifully in front of the camera. So do creamy white and ivory hues, as well as muted natural shades such as sage or powder blue. You’ll want to avoid any attire that has loud prints, logos, or neon colors.
What kind of props work well for our littles’ first family pictures?
My photography style leans on documenting moments as they unfold. I focus on capturing the genuine emotions you and your family share the same way you would on a day-to-day basis. During the colder months, that typically means stepping into your home and using a dedicated space where we can allow those moments to become organic.
During this time, your littles are welcome to bring along their favorite lovey. Conversely, if you have a beloved family heirloom, such as a rocking chair that’s been passed down or even a vintage toy or stuffy, we can work on including those items in the background of your session as well. The sole focus of your first time family photos will be on creating images of everyone together, in your natural state. Allowing you to freeze this moment in time, while your children are still so small, no props required.
Do you have any tips for natural poses if it’s our first time capturing family photos?
The biggest tip I can provide you with is to focus on your family. Play fun games with your little ones, let them jump on the bed, or throw them up in the air (carefully, of course), and allow those moments to write the story of your family photos. We will absolutely capture a few photos with everyone together, looking at the camera. You only need to be present, and the joy you share during your family photoshoot will be present in displayed through every image we create together.
How can we work with you?
Hi, I’m Kristen, and I capture lifestyle family photos in Edina, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. As a local mom and photographer, I know how precious yet fleeting these moments are throughout childhood. I offer first-time family photos in the comfort of your home or in beautiful local outdoor locations throughout Minneapolis. My approach is centered on fun, play, and active adventuring, which are not only allowed but highly encouraged. You can find more details on working with me to capture family photos when you visit this link. Or, to view even more of my work, navigate the links below.
