‘Tis the season for family photos. Whether you want to preserve this season of life or get an early start on your holiday cards, November is a busy month for family photos. This time of year can be stressful in its own right. Throw in family photos, and the stress levels rise.
Finding the right photographer is only the first part. What’s not fun is trying to find a date that works for the whole family; trying to coordinate outfits, especially when you have a picky teenager who suddenly cares about his appearance; waking up early on a Sunday to get there on time; arguing about why we need new family photos … I can go on and on. It’s a good thing this is only a once-a-year occurrence.
READ: Our Favorite Local Photographers in Jacksonville
I planned a few things differently this time, which I believe helped defuse the normally stressful situation that you may want to consider next time you’re scheduled for family photos.
Give advance notice.
And inform the family the month before to ensure they know the date and time of the shoot and won’t act surprised when the time comes. It was the only day over a two-month span that worked for our family, so there were no other options. It was happening then, and even begging to spend the night at a friend’s house wasn’t going to work because I had given ample notice.
Start coordinating outfits early.
I decided what I was going to wear about three weeks before the shoot, and it gave me time to scour closets and shop for the right color palette for each family member. My kids are growing like weeds, so my 14-year-old had no pants that fit him, and my 7-year-old didn’t have a sweater in the right color family. I purchased a few different options and had them each try things on, so outfits were final about a week prior. My husband ended up wearing something I bought for my oldest son.
READ: 10 Tips on What to Wear for Your Family Photos
Lay out clothes the night before.
To avoid trying to find the clothes at the bottom of the hamper or the dryer, I laid the clothes out for everyone on the couch — complete with socks, underwear, and shoes. It saved time and energy the morning of and helped us get out the door on time.
Get proper rest.
Make sure everyone goes to bed at a decent hour and has alarms set to leave extra time in the morning for breakfast, last-minute wardrobe issues, or unexpected weekend traffic. Dealing with cranky or hangry kids (or parents) is never fun.
Bring a backup outfit.
Or wait to get fully dressed until you arrive at the photo shoot location. This was not something I planned for, and on the way to the shoot, my older son spilled water down the front of his shirt. I’m not talking about a few drops. It looks like someone splashed him across his chest, and it was not dry when we arrived. I lost my sh*t when he got out of the car and I saw it!
Reward your family with a fun activity when it’s over.
We ended up going to breakfast, which we never do, and the kids got to order anything they wanted from the menu. French toast and juice for the win. And a mimosa for me to celebrate the accomplishment.
While getting through family photos can seem like a painful situation at the time, the smiles and laughs (and awkward poses) during the shoot make it all worth it. And you’ll have photos to look back on and enjoy for years to come.
