Tips | Christopher William

Tips and Tricks

to make your session great!

Choose your clothing carefully...

Great photos are no accident. Carefully coordinating your clothing is one way to take your photos from good to amazing! It cannot be emphasized enough: dress to impress! If possible, plan what you're going to wear way in advance. It's a good idea to coordinate colors, but you probably don't want to match completely. Avoid graphics and complex patterns, as they stick out like a sore thumb. It depends on the specific look you want, but it's usually a good idea to use soft or neutral colors with bold accents versus bold colors all around. If you Google something like, "coordinated family clothes" you're sure to get some ideas. Have fun with it and maybe even use your photo session as an excuse to go shopping!

Allow plenty of time to get ready...

One of the most important and often overlooked tips is to leave plenty of time to get ready. The last thing you want is to start off on the wrong foot. Scrambling to make sure everyone is dressed and in the car at the last minute is not good for anyone. Clear the schedule. Enjoy the time with your family. When families have a little bonding time before the shoot, it really shows in the photos!

Help the kids to be at their best...

Keeping kids well-fed and well-rested is essential. It's a good idea for everyone, of course, but especially for those little guys. In addition to getting ready at a relaxed pace, plan an after-party. But don't just spring it on them in the car, on the way to your session. No, no, no. Slowly build it up for days in advance. That way they'll be excited, but not bouncing off the walls during your shoot. Remember, if the kids have something to look forward to after their photos, they're sure to shine!

Whatever you do, don't forget dad...

Let's be honest. If you were to ask any guy what his ideal day would be, it almost certainly wouldn't involve taking family photos. Of course, some dads can hide this fact much better than others, but rest assured, all dads could use some encouragement on photo day. So please, don't forget to take care of dad.

Bring the fun...

Want a personalized touch? Feel free to bring props! For example, if there's a particular quilt, blanket, toy or stuffed animal that holds significance, bring it along. Use caution here though: if you know there's no way blankie can be left out even for a minute, leave it at home or be okay with it in every picture.

Say cheese...or don't.

During your session you want everyone to be cheerful, but sometimes that can be stressful. So take yourself a deep, calming breath and remember not to sweat the smiles! Don't worry if your kid is looking away or picking his nose. Smiles come and go and often photos with candid expressions prove to be the most treasured and timeless. Try to make sure you, as the parent, are always ready with your best photo face. Believe it or not, there are far more photos foiled by a parent correcting a child than those with innocent, unwanted expressions. But remember, you don't have to hold a smile until your cheeks are numb either. Just relax and enjoy the time spent together. The smiles will come. Besides, with digital photography it's possible to take hundreds of photos just to land that ONE.

Have fun with your family...

Okay, here it is: the most important of all! It might sound generic or obvious, but enjoying time with your family is what photos are all about! It's what life is all about!

Hopefully, these tips prove to be helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please drop a line. See you on photo day!