The Holidays are a great time to capture Family Memories

The Holidays are a great time to have a family portrait done. Everyone is in town and scheduling a portrait session is a bit easier with the kids home from school. Izard Photography shoots both studio and home/on-location family portraits. Often having the portrait done in the setting of your home can enrich the experience and make that image more of a unique memory. Talk to the photographer, let her know how many people will be participating in the session. Discuss clothing. Sometimes a little preparation and advance planning can work to enhance the image. Does your family have a sense of humor? Ask the photographer if you can do a “silly pic.” While the goofy shot of everyone making faces probably won’t make the cut for the wall Portrait hanging in your living room, it might be just perfect for your family webpage or the next invite you send out to friends for a party!  

It may help the child to feel more comfortable in a new environment if Mom brings toys or other props from home.  Snacks are always welcome and serve as a nice break for the child while the photographer prepares for the next series of shots.

Bringing things like diapers and wipes are a good idea for the little ones as well.

As far as clothing for young children, solid colors, bold and bright are good. Pastels are also very nice. Avoid busy stripes and patterns. Solid white against a white background or black against a black background can work well for certain kinds of close up shots  that can be very dramatic and really show off your child’s personality.  Bringing a brush or comb can be helpful too.

I find that when I work with toddlers and young children that we will work very quickly for short periods of time. I’m not a big fan of staying in the moment too long when working with young children ( i.e. the traditional “smile, smile for the camera! SMILE!! with a high- pitched somewhat demanding voice).  The end result can be somewhat stiff smiles and uncertain expressions.   Yet that being said, sometimes for toddlers and infants, who are constantly being distracted as they explore their new world, the “smile, Smile, SMILE” is  EXACTLY the approach the photographer needs to use to get the child’s attention!

Some kids do better if they feel like they are in charge of the situation, others like specific guidance and other children will just smile in front of the camera all day long. It’s nice when Mom is close by, but too close can also be a distraction for a child. It’s important for the photographer to develop a rapport with the child, so that the child will look to the photographer for guidance in front of the camera.  As you can see there are no steadfast rules here, mostly because every child is different and that is one of the joys and challenges of photographing children!

Nowadays on the web, we see headshots with much tighter cropping. That is to say, mostly face showing and no neck. If you know any models you might hear them talk about headshots. Models will have portfolios with headshots showing a variety of expressions and hairstyles, actors need headshots too. Many business people will want a headshot for their marketing materials. Realtors rely on headshots as they lend a personal touch to the advertisement. After looking at a headshot, you, the potential customer, have a better feel for the person you may hire to produce a product or service.

In order to get the most out of your photo session, think about what you are looking to convey with your “headshot.” When you are booking an appointment with your photographer, make sure you talk about the kind of shots you want. A dark backdrop? White? Something more traditional? Or perhaps an on-location shoot in your office. Words like “traditional, conservative, stylish, modern, contemporary, laid back, environmental (referring to a location-or local environment), dramatic, and high-energy” will help guide your photographer in meeting your particular needs.

One last thought, since headshots are often used for publication make sure you obtain a release from your photographer to do so. Typically part of the cost of a headshot (sometimes known as an “executive portrait session”) is the copyright release. Most standard headshot releases will state that you, the subject, have unlimited and exclusive use to the images that you have purchased.  With the release in hand, and images on CD you are free to use them in anyway you wish!

Recognize that you’re probably feeling just a bit self conscious. Relax. It’s natural to feel this way. The important thing is to move on from those thoughts. You want to get the best possible photos, right? Your photographer does too.  All in all,  you are both on the same page and it is okay to relax and trust the photographer. 

Here’s another secret, those folks who always take great pictures? Well most of them probably have plenty of practice at it. People who are always getting in front of the crowd or in front of a camera, tend to be more relaxed, just from repeated practice …….and that’s the secret. Spend some time in front of the mirror, practice your smile, get comfortable with your clothes, learn what looks best on you and practice a few poses until you get comfortable with them. Basically it’s just getting comfortable in your own skin and being happy with who you are when the shutter clicks. 

To get the best expressions for a group portait, let the photographer run the show. Each photographer has their own method, their own way of producing the perfect image. So just relax and follow directions. Typically a good portrait photographer has a trick or two up their sleeve in order to capture the expression of a wayward child or distracted family pet. Admittedly, on occasion, whenever children and pets are involved…sometimes everybody else just has to wait patiently for a moment or two. 

Here’s another trick. Think of something funny. Easy to say, hard to do right? Well think about this ahead of time….before you get to the studio. Is there anything amusing that happened recently which still brings a smile to your face? Maybe when you were younger? I always like to think about the time my old hound dog ate a large extra cheese pizza behind my back.  I left the room for no more than 10 minutes and when I came back, that pizza was GONE, no cheese, no crumbs, no tomato paste smear….nothing! It still makes me smile to this day when I think about the incident.

Last resort, feel that stress building? Still just wanting to get the whole thing over with? Well, picture that nasty ‘ol photographer wearing a pair of  old red long johns and a silly shower cap and see if that doesn’t bring a smile to your face!

Did you know that cameras were invented in the 1800′s, but did not really come into popular use until the 1950′s and 60′s? Many people could not afford an artist’s sketch or painting and had no way to capture important events other than through family stories and tales. Time passed, children grew, couples married …. can you imagine a life without photographs? No pictures on the wall, no family scrapbook or album?  In many of the old black and white photos we see very serious expressions, no smiling at all! Getting the family portrait taken was serious business, it was such a rare and important event that many people took it very seriously.

To learn a little more about the history of photography click here  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_photography  OR here http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photography-timeline.html .

Spend some time chatting with your photographer when you book your appointment.  Share concerns, ask a few questions… this gives the photographer a chance to get to know you and your family as well.

Coordinate clothing. Solid colors are best, but also choose clothing that is flattering as well.  Portraits are about people and personality. The expression should say it all, not the clothes! 

 Spend a little extra time and care on makeup and hair. Bring the brush, the comb, the hairspray and gel, particularly if it is a windy day and outdoor shots are planned.  Considering a haircut? Make sure your appointment is a couple weeks in advance of the photo session to ensure a smooth even look in close up shots. Group portraits can be shot full length on occasion, so make sure everyone is wearing appropriate footgear (sometimes bare feet is the best way to go!)

Relax and enjoy yourself. It will show!