When you look at your family photos, what do you want to see? Whether your family photos are hanging on the walls of your home, preserved in an album, or featured on your annual holiday card, your family photos should capture more than just a picture-perfect snapshot. You want family photos that feel like you!

From the laughter and the playful moments to the genuine interactions that capture the true essence of your family’s unique dynamic, it’s important that your family photography session documents the love, the joy, the chaos, and the little quirks that make your family one-of-a-kind.

Let’s unpack why it should be your mission to take family photos that reflect who you really are. Every time you glance at them, you’re reminded of what truly matters – the genuine connections that make your family special.

Choose the Right Photographer for You

The most important part of ensuring that your family photos feel authentic happens before you step in front of the camera. It’s important to choose the right photographer for you!

One of the most important parts of hiring a family photographer is conducting research before you make the decision to book.

First, ensure that you understand and resonate with the photographer’s shooting and editing style. Browse a photographer’s portfolio to see what kind of locations they utilize for their sessions. Do they offer in-home photography or outdoor photography? Do their location preferences align with what you want out of your session? Most photographers have specific preferences or styles that they work within. It’s important that you find a photographer whose approach and style of photography aligns with your vision.

Share Your Vision with Your Photographer

You’ve ensured a good fit with your photographer from a stylistic standpoint. Your next step is to share your vision for your family photography session with your photographer. My client onboarding process for every client includes an extensive questionnaire to help me learn and understand who you are as a family and what your hopes are for our time together. 

In particular, I always ask clients to share any important details, moments, or interactions that they want to capture. I also ask about family dynamics, how comfortable everyone typically feels in front of the camera and when meeting new people, and more.

One of my favorite questions to ask is, “What specific details do you love about each of your children at this time in your lives?” From toothy grins to the crinkle in their nose when they laugh, I want to document these important details in photos! These details are unique to you and your family and go a long way to make your photos feel like you!

Be Yourselves and Embrace Imperfection

My best advice for every photography session I shoot? Relax and try to be yourself and have fun when you’re in front of the camera! This is especially important advice for family photography sessions because as you know, children often take cues on how to act from their parents. If you’re comfortable and relaxed when the camera comes out, chances are that your children will be, too!

Also remember, we are working with children, so not every moment of your family photography experience will be perfect. Its important to be as flexible and as understanding as you can if your daughter’s dress gets wrinkled or your son’s having a tough day. I promise that I’ve seen it all, and I have a few tricks on hand to help your family shine!

It’s important to me that as my client, you feel comfortable in front of the camera, which is one major reason why I share preparation guides in advance. I want you to feel super prepared for your session, which will help our time together feel easy and relaxed.

Trust Your Photographer

Finally, it’s important that my clients trust my expertise when prompting them to pose in a specific way, even if it feels weird initially. As an experienced family photographer, I know how to gently direct your family to interact with one another in ways that will translate into beautiful photographs. I want you to love your images, so it’s vital that you trust me as the session progresses!

Trust in me is also important when it comes to the weather. Because I’m a natural light photographer, I like to shoot at 10AM on sunny days to ensure that the photos I’m delivering for your family align with what you see in my portfolio. So in addition to trusting me as the session progresses, I ask my clients to be flexible if we need to reschedule due to overcast days. I’m blessed to have clients who are as committed to the results — beautiful photographs! — as I am.

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When your family photos feel like you, they become more than just images — they become cherished memories, telling the story of your family’s journey together.

Next time you’re in front of the camera, embrace the real and the imperfect moments, because those are the moments that you’ll remember. Let your family photos be a celebration of who you are as a family at this time in your lives.

As always, if you’re in the Fort Worth, Dallas, or Aledo area and are interested in a family photography session, please reach out!