Tips for parents

Contents

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY NI

THE LOCATION & TIME OF DAY

Location is important. It sets a dramatic backdrop which will elevate your images. We have plenty of choice in Northern Ireland, so explore some of those special locations.

If a location has lots of scope, it’s easy to explore with your family. Open spaces are good, we could try to catch the sunrise or sunset if you’re looking that extra sparkle of golden hour images. Some examples could be; sunset in Belfast city centre, sunset at the beach, sunset exploring a nature trail.

Plan the outfits and think about your vision

Just skip this read, and look at the mood boards for the full visual mood of your chosen shoot. The idea is to plan a shoot that LOOKS and FEELS like your family. Each family has a vibe, let’s make you feel like you. For those countryside images, soft tones and cosy clothing looks great, maybe even welly boots and hats, green fields or a nature walk, get your wax jacket on. There is nothing cuter than a knitted jumper or cardigan with some texture. You can check out family clothing combinations here on my Pinterest. For the city centre see the mood board below, clothing with font/checked patterns, leather jackets and a coffee stop or Belfast/The Valley skate park are ideal back drops, or the Mac art gallery/Ulster Museum.

Aesthetic toys or rattles are another good idea as sometimes baby needs to hold onto something. Small biscuits or cookies are good ‘non messy’ snacks for during the session. Kids love a little biscuit when sitting together as a family. Snacks are handy to have in more posed and directed shots.

Mood Board

THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO/ EXPRESS YOUR FAMILY VIBE

Selecting about 10 images can be really useful for your planning and vision. Collecting outfits for your family can be A LOT to do before the shoot. So give it good time and thought. For your newborn you might want a cosy cardigan with some texture with some tiny cuddly rattles/comforter.

AESTHETIC & GOALS FOR THE SHOOT

Outfits for the whole family matter. You want the outfits to match the location of your shoot. Hair styles matter too, do you want effortlessly loose curls or tight ringlets? Tight plaits can look like the kids are off to school, compared to looser ones, little bits of hair framing the face. Cute pig tail buns. Messy hair gel for little boys rather than ‘combed to perfection’ with too much product.

Back Garden: Every day casual, messy hair. Jeans, bare foot. Fun/running and playing. Nature hunt, watering the flowers.

Exploring the beach : wrap up a little, hats & boots, cardigans. Creams/ Whites/ Neural tones work well. Scroll to see mood board below.

Summer at the beach: toes out, no shoes, summer dresses, running into the sea bare foot, Picnic or building sand castles.

Exploring nature trail: Boots, bobby socks, Jumpers, pixie baby bonnets, Knits with texture, bobbled cardigans, scarf, layers.

Skate Park: chequered shorts, van shoes, hoodies, caps, leather and denim jackets. Bold colours.

At home newborn snuggle session: baby rattles, blankets, cosy knitted textures, window seats, book reading, play time, feeding, close ups of baby’s precious details, white bedding.