Family Photo Sessions – What to Expect

March 01, 2022 • Leave a Comment

We usually know what to expect when visiting a large chain store because every location will be very similar in style and process, but the same cannot be said for a small photography business. You could work with 10 different photographers, and every single one of them might be different than the next. From editing styles, to posing and locations, to prices and inclusions – it will all vary. This brings me to the reason for this post...

What should you expect from a family photo session with me?

Before I go on – you can view my full prices and information here. The photo session lengths will vary depending on your needs, but all of my family sessions – from 20 minute mini-sessions up to 90 minute + extended family sessions - will have a similar flow. The number of photos in your final gallery will vary, depending on how much time we have and your own family's dynamic, but I always try to photograph the following during every family session.

POSED PHOTOS

I always begin every photo session with the "money shot." This is the classic, posed, everyone-looking-at-the-camera-smiling-photo. I've found that if we start with this photo, it makes the rest of the session more relaxed and fun. As we progress through your photo session, I will take more posed photos of your entire family with different backdrops.

Collage of family photos in Colorado

SMALL GROUPINGS

Next, we will get photos of smaller groups – parents together, children together, each parent with each child, and any others that you request.

Collage of Colorado family photos

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS

I always try to get at least one photo of each individual child. I am also happy to get individual photos of the adults – we can all use an updated photo of ourselves for social media or LinkedIn, right?

Collage of child photos

CANDID PHOTOS

Sprinkled throughout the poses mentioned above, I will take a variety of prompted-candid and behind-the-scenes photos. These photos will typically account for about half of your final gallery, and they they are often my clients' favorites! Some examples include: walking photos, airplane photos (a favorite with older babies and toddlers!), playing parachute with a blanket, tickle photos, family hugs, and more.

collage of family photos in Colorado

Hopefully this post has given you a good idea about what to expect from your photo session, but I do want to mention that every photo session will be different, just as every family is different. I always make space for different family dynamics, and do my best to create authentic, artistic photos that are unique to your family.

Lastly, I want to address prices and inclusions. I linked my pricing page above, but it's important to know what you're paying for before booking any photographer. Some photographers charge a low upfront fee and then sell photos separately, while others are all-inclusive. I fall into the latter category because it is what I would want as a consumer. The prices that I post are all-inclusive – from planning through the delivery of your final, fully-edited digital images. I also include a print release to give you the freedom to print and share to your heart's desire. As always, I'm here if you have any questions, and I'm happy to help!

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