My top 3 tips for fun family photos in Richmond

Sometimes the idea of planning your family photos can be so daunting – you have to pick outfits, a location, get everyone ready, show up to the session and then be cute and natural on top of that?! But don’t let those little details keep you from documenting these special moments together, here are my tips to help you plan your next fun family photos in Richmond!

Plan an activity

My number one key for fun family photos in Richmond is to plan an activity. It can be anything, from painting nails to an ice cream party, popcorn on the couch, a picnic or dance party. Anything that is fun and means something special to your family.

By having an activity for your family photos, you take away a lot of the pressure to look like you’re having fun and perfectly poised, both of which come much more naturally when you are genuinely enjoying the time spent with your family.

Planning an activity takes your photo session and makes it so much more than that. You are creating memories to document this specific moment in your family’s life. Whether you have rambunctious little ones or more demure, older children, these photos will serve as a reminder of where your family was at this specific point together – something that you as the parents will cherish forever and something that your children will have to remember their childhood.

Here are some of my favorite activities:

Nail polish between mom and daughter

Playful wrestling with dad and sons

Ice cream party

Popcorn and snuggles

A picnic

Walk on the beach

Baking cookies

Dance party

Dress up

The opportunities are endless! What is something that your family loves to do together that you could incorporate into your next family photo session?

For fun family photos in Richmond, coordinate your outfits – Don’t match

Long gone are the days of khakis and white tops for everyone all around. The latest trend in family photography, that I personally believe is truely timeless, is to coordinate your outfits instead of matching. This is more of finding colors, patterns and textures that all blend together and dressing your family in these variations to create a wholistic and composed look.

My biggest tip with this is to dress mom first, then children, and I’m sorry, Dad, but you are usually the last (and easiest!) to dress. I recommend longer (midi to maxi length) dresses for moms that have some loose shape to them and with thicker straps or short to long sleeves.

I personally love more netural, pastel/muted tones. Cremes, whites and light pastels with soft patterns photograph so well with my professional asthetic. Pick a pattern for one person, and then dress everyone in varying solid tones and textures around that pattern. Some ways to bring texture into the fold are sweaters, knits, satin, and other unique fabrics, like tuille.

Knowing that you look amazing will help bring make for fun family photos in Richmond.

Try not to look at the camera

This one is tough for a lot of people. I think it goes against our nature to not look at the camera, but once you get in the moment of the activity, it’s so easy! I always like to start with the one image of everyone looking at the camera and smiling. You have to have that one, of course! But after that, I encourage you to spend the session engaging with each other and only looking at me when I suggest so. It helps your photos stay candid and natural, without looking like you were trying to do that!

Having an activity helps a lot with this. You are more drawn to focus on what you and your children are doing. It also helps to take a few moments to soak in the moment, whether its a look with your partner, or a snuggle with your little one, this moment is all about you.

Jacqueline Aimee Portraits offers Richmond Family photos for clients looking for timeless and true family portraits. See her latest work on Instagram!

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