When it comes to family photos, I (like all of you mommies out there, yeah, I know you're reading this) love to romanticize about what a dreamy, wonderful, magazine spread-like, all-day session would be like and what amazing photos we would make as we laughed the hours away. Of course, it mostly has never happened this way. BUT... this has not discouraged me. With a little planning and thinking ahead, family photos really can be a fun, positive experience for the whole family AND produce quality timeless photos you will cherish for life. These ideas can also stir up some wonderful outfit ideas, which in my opinion are the hardest barrier to break through!
I have put together a list of family photo themes that would bring a touch of fun to your photo session and would provide a platform for creative and candid photos. Here are some ideas:
Game Night
Bring favorite board games, some lemonade and popcorn to a park and play together.
Bike Ride
Choose a quiet country road to ride and take photos around the bikes. If it's a secluded location, we can comfortably take road photos and avoid traffic.
Camping Trip
Set up a smallish tent or rudimentary shelter, and a great big bonfire. Bring marshmallows and roast s'mores.
Road Trip
Bring the family "wagon," a few fun suitcases. We can find a great location with a lonely road and various spots for family photos. Maybe even a vintage hotel! Do you know someone who owns a VW van??
Picnic
Bring a blanket, basket, and some yummy treats to share while we photograph the action. I'll find a place with a tire swing to make it fun for the little kids and the big kids, too.
Bumming by the River
Find a beautiful river shore and wade in the river, skip rocks, and roast some hot dogs over the waterside bonfire. I am sure that we can also find a sweet bridge nearby.
Picking Peaches (or anything in season)
Bring some cute buckets, a vintage ladder, and go picking in an orchard. Then, eat the peaches with a little cream and sugar in the shade (think vintage milk bottles).
Singing in the Rain
Get fun umbrellas and boots and stomp around some fun puddles downtown for an original "Oregon" weather sampler collection.
Garden Party
More like cute yard work! We can do some fun family playing time outside and then pull on some super cute gardening accessories and play in the dirt. What mom doesn't love a little dirt? Add some buckets of flowers and voila!
Beach Outing
Take a couple of fun umbrellas to the beach (it's not that far from here!) and a cute picnic basket. Dress is light, airy clothes and play in the sand with buckets and shovels. Wade in the water at the end of the session. Shoot a couple of semi-wet romantic shots of Mom and Dad at the end.
I hope this helps get your creative juices flowing and makes family photo planning a breeze. If you like this article please share it with your friends by clicking one of the buttons below.
My name is Analia and I specialize in family, children
and teens photography in Eugene, Oregon and the surrounding areas. If
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