photoshootblog

Gulp, The Family Photo... on the Main Line

Hello Neighbor! Well, I’m finally doing it: I signed up for a Fall family photo session. In years past, I was very hesitant about doing this, always waiting for the “right time”. But, this has…

Hello Neighbor!

Well, I’m finally doing it: I signed up for a Fall family photo session. In years past, I was very hesitant about doing this, always waiting for the “right time”. But, this has been a wild year and one of the biggest lessons we’ve all learned is that life is too short. Seasons fly by. Babies grow up. The best “right time” is right now.

Thanks to a recommendation from a neighbor, I found a fantastic local photographer ready to snap (hopefully) fantastic pictures of our little brood. The only problem? I was immediately filled with dread. Months of quarantining with too many snacks and too many days of yoga pants means my regular pants are all a smidge snug these days. Not to mention my new worry lines thanks to…well, everything. Sadly, I just don’t feel like the best version of myself right now.

I started to spiral (Should I wear all black? Maybe just have the dog and the baby in the photos instead?) and knew I needed to pull myself together. Not only for my own sanity but also to send the right message to my daughter.

So, I called our photographer – Rachael Fisher – for some advice and not only did she share practical tips, but she actually made me excited for our session. Here were my favorite takeaways from her, maybe they’ll help you and your families as well!

– Look at the photographer’s website in advance. Make sure their style matches your own and your expectations are aligned. If you’re looking for portraits and the photographer does more candids, you’ll be disappointed.

– Do try to find a color palette: warm or cool tones. Find 3-4 colors that look nice together (not everyone has to wear the same shade of blue!).

– Look like yourselves! If you don’t wear heels, don’t wear heels. Don’t do something wildly different with your make-up. Same goes for your kids. You want everyone to feel like themselves so they’ll be themselves when it’s picture taking time.

– Don’t worry if your kids aren’t looking at the camera or if your hair isn’t perfect. Relax and have fun! That’s what you’ll see in your photos and those are the images you’ll love.

– And for anyone like me whose confidence is running a little low? Do one small thing that makes you feel good and gives you an extra boost, like getting a manicure or a blow-out. And try to remember, 10 years from now, you won’t remember that your dress was a little tight or your under eye circles were a little *extra* dark. You’ll simply look back and remember a happy moment in time for your family. (But I’m definitely booking that blow-out…)

Cheers!
Marisa