I l o v e getting familiy photos done and I try to schedule at least one photoshoot a year. If you know me, it’s probably not surprising because I also l o v e photos in general, but there’s something special about getting professional photos taken year after year. I started when I was pregnant with Amelia and have gotten them done pretty much yearly since! They’re really fun to look back on and see how much we’ve all grown and changed, especially the kids, in one year! This year’s photos were done by Kristy of Glory and Green and I could not be happier with them! I have a few local and local-ish photographers I’ve found and loved over the years (Richard Barnes, StephLynn Photography, Donna Billingsley) and it’s always fun to find someone new as each has his or her own particular style, which is part of the fun, I think!
One of my favorite parts of getting family photos done is choosing a color palette/outfits for everyone. I’d like to say that I’m very organized and plan ahead but, the truth is that I’m relatively last minute when it comes to scheduling family photos. Most of the time, I have less than a month (and sometimes I’ve had less than 2 weeks) to get everything together! This year, I was extremely lucky and got a date soon after I reached out to Kristy and so it didn’t leave me much time to order anything new… so, I didn’t. I decided on this orange and pink Banjanan dress that I wore for Easter and built everyone else’s outfits around that. Amelia’s dress is actually one she wore last year for Christmas and it worked out perfectly! I did have to order her new Hunter Boots so Joseph could wear hers from last year, but I would have bought them regardless of whether or not we were getting pictures taken.
I think I’ve learned a few things about styling a photoshoot over the last few year and so I wanted to share some tips that I hope are helpful if you’re planning family photos anytime soon! 1. Pick your standout piece (or color palette but I’ve found that it’s helpful for your vision to start with an actual piece of clothing or accessory) & work around that- I picked my dress first! 2. Add texture- I picked Amelia’s dress second, partly because I already had it and I loved the color but mostly because of the tulle and that was part of my vision for her (it was actually her Christmas dress from last year & I love the unexpected feel the tulle gives to our otherwise rustic setting). Mixing textures for photos always comes out beautifully! 3. Try to stick to one print or pattern (unless the second print is a subtle one like the stripes on Joe’s sweater!). 4. Don’t be afraid to pull in color! You want to have a general color palette and you want the colors to be complementary BUT don’t be afraid to add a bold pop somewhere…just maybe not neon ;). You don’t have to wear neutrals to get good pictures! 5. Keep it classic. I try to only use pieces that aren’t very obviously dated- so, nothing trendy for me! 6. Have fun with it and don’t take yourself too seriously!
Thank you, Kristy, for taking such beautiful photos of our family and for being SO wonderful! My kids are still asking about you!
