How to Get Joyful Family Photos
Bend Lifestyle Family Photo education
Coastal Family Portrait
Perfectly styled outfits, well-behaved kids, and a great location won’t make your Central Oregon family photoshoot joyful. Following these four rules will.
The most meaningful and beautiful photos happen when families feel free to be themselves in front of the camera. As a Central Oregon family photographer, I’ve learned that joyful portraits aren’t about the styled outfits or perfectly behaved kids — they’re about families focusing on each other during the session. Whether we’re capturing your family at home in Bend or exploring one of Central Oregon’s stunning outdoor locations, a few simple guidelines can transform your experience from stressful to memorable.
These four rules help families slow down and stay present to create portraits filled with genuine joy.
Rule #1: Ignore your phone (and smart watch).
I know, I know - there’s a thousand things to do every day. But how often do you get a chance to ignore the world for an hour or two? Think of it as a gift, because it is. Your kids love attention from you, so use it to your advantage to get those pictures you really want.
A lot of families walk into photo sessions feeling apprehensive about how the experience will go. I can usually tell how long it’s going to take to get everyone to feel comfortable in front of the camera just by watching the parents. A more attentive parent typically means that we’ll be able to capture the good stuff earlier in the session; however, if a parent’s attitude is reserved or they’re not paying attention to their kids, then it usually takes longer for the family to warm up to the camera.
Your notifications will still be there after your session ends. You know what won’t be there again at the end of the day? The camera. So, put everything on silent and ditch the tech for a bit. If you’re my client, I’ll even ensure phones aren’t in pockets and smart watches aren’t on wrists (they’re not pretty in photos). You’ll be glad you took the time to ignore your tech when the edited gallery comes back to you.
Rule #2: Remember that your attitude matters more than your child’s behavior in a session.
Parents often express concerns about their child’s behavior. I’m a parent myself, so I understand the concern. We want our kids to be good little humans in the world. I’ll let you in on a little secret: most photographers are more worried about a grumpy adult than a child who might have big feelings. It’s easy to turn a kid’s frown into a smile with affection or a game; it’s not so easy to do that with an adult.
And (ahem) I know dads are usually the culprits for feeling grumpy about taking family pictures. Let’s change that attitude by making the experience fun. Contact me for a no-obligation chat to see how.
Set the tone for the session by showing enthusiasm, and usually your kids will follow suit. Even if you’re not feeling particularly enthralled with the idea of taking family portraits - don’t show that to your kids. Instead, try to remember that you’re taking family photos for yourself as much as you are for your kids. We only get this one short life. You might as well make it a life well-remembered through memorable family photos together.
Rule #3: Let it be. (Really)
Don’t worry about stray hairs, clothing not being perfectly tucked, or pasting forced smiles on your faces the entire time. If there’s something that truly needs to be fixed before the camera snaps a picture, your photographer should be the one addressing it. Otherwise, please do yourself a huge favor and don’t break a joyful moment to adjust a detail that doesn’t matter. Remember this: emotion wins over perfection every single time.
Instead, try to think about how all of the imperfections of a session can contribute to storytelling for your family’s photo gallery. Windblown hair shows movement. Rumpled or mismatched clothing on a kid shows their personality. The silly faces that pop up amongst family members shows your goofy side. All of these are beautiful storytelling elements that one day will be oh, so important to you.
See an example of ignoring imperfection and sinking into the moment in this playful family photoshoot.
And if you’re really worried about how everyone looks, check out this post on your basic family styling formula to help you find the photoshoot outfits you’ll love to remember year after year. [linked post]
Rule #4: Engage with your loved ones & sink into the moment.
This is the single most important thing you can do in your photo session. Genuine emotion in photos begins with true connection. No camera or Photoshop magic can create this - it starts with you.
Physically engaging with your family is holding hands, kissing, touching cheeks, hugging, and staying close together. That physical closeness visually translates into emotional closeness. And you know what else? Bodies react positively to loving physical touch. This is a natural way to calm nerves and create space for joy in your family photos.
Sinking into the moment means letting yourself be immersed in the experience. Don’t try to direct your children’s attention to the camera. It’s your photographer’s job to guide the moments and move the camera accordingly.
Similarly, if you’re sitting with your family, don’t be thinking about grocery lists or what you have to do at work tomorrow. Strive to just be present in the moment. If you’re not sure how to do this, watch your kids. Children are excellent guides at finding wonder around them.
Bonus Rule #5: Visualize a good result before the session starts.
If you’re not particularly excited about taking family portraits, you’re not alone. I’ve worked with many families who have had at least one parent that felt apprehensive about taking pictures together. I’ve also seen those same people leave their session with me feeling happy about the experience and excited to see the photos. I think a lot of the hesitation around taking portraits is the feeling that it’s just another duty you have to perform.
Let’s take that mindset and shift it into something positive, instead. try to visualize an amazing end result. Think about how it will feel to have visual proof of some happy memories together that your kids get to cherish forever (probably pretty good, right?) Take that happy vibe from this thought and go into the session expecting a good result. Voila, instant mood booster.
All of these rules are simple changes to make, but they can be challenging to implement if you’re not used to it.
Hiring a seasoned family photographer who can navigate the things that really matter - like helping you feel comfortable and connected in front of the camera - can make a huge difference in the resulting photos. If you haven’t worked with a photographer who makes your experience feel fun, then perhaps you haven’t found someone who is truly aligned with your family’s needs. Read this blog about three questions to ask a photographer before you hire them (hint: none of them are about pricing). [linked post]
Feeling too busy to add one more thing to your plate, but you want those cherished family memories? I’m a Bend family photographer that helps with the whole process so it feels easy. Learn more about lifestyle family sessions with me and see how I can make a difference for your family photos.
Hello, I’m Elise.
I’d love to work with you.
Time is a thief, indeed. But it doesn’t have to steal everything. I can help you bottle up all the goodness - of the moments that you never want to forget, and the memories you want to hand down to your children. If you’re looking for a photographer that’s more than just an hour of your time, you’ve got the right human here.