Hudson Valley Family Lifestyle Photography
All the information on coordinating a successful and fun extended family photo session
Have you ever thought you may want to capture your extended family in a natural and authentic way? Bottling up these precious memories of times spent together? Time goes by fast, and kids grow up all too quick. Capturing families through generations is one of my favorite things. However, many families find it stressful to think about coordinating for themselves, not to mention an entire extended family. I love to offer guidance and support during the planning process, to not only make it smooth on the day of, but to make it fun also. I promise, it is possible! And when you see your images, you will be so happy you chose to do it. Here are a few of my tips for ensuring a smooth process:
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Have good communication with your photographer during the planning. Your photographer should be aiding in this process to ensure the day of goes smoothly. Are you worried or anxious about anything? Let your photographer know! They are the professionals and will offer advice and guidance to help ease your worries, and allow you to relax and have fun
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Have a plan in place. Again, this is put in place by your photographer. For my extended family sessions, I go in with more of a plan than I would another session. There are more combinations of families to capture, with only a limited amount of time based on our lighting. A plan is key for me, and it helps families feel more comfortable to know that I got their backs!
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Fill out your questionnaire! This is a big one for me! This allows me to get to know everyone before I show up. Are you worried about certain kids being past their bedtimes? Cranky? Grandpa not that into photos? I need to know it all, as it helps me come up with a customized plan to your family. This is imperative to keeping everything flowing nicely!
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Create Sentimentality and Emotion. I always encourage families to think of something that may join or bond them as a family and represent that in their gallery. Adding a personal touch creates layers of emotion that bring your images to life and bring you back to that moment in time
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Relax and have fun! Seriously! I usually dedicate a portion of my sessions to those “must have” or posed shots. Once those are completed, I encourage your family to have fun, be crazy, let the kids be wacky. That is what I WANT to see and capture! No rules here. This is your family’s one of a kind story, and each one is unique and beautiful!
If you may be interested in an extended family session for your family, please fill out the form below! I’d love to get to know you and share some more of my tips for a successful and fun storytelling experience!
