Tips for Family Photography Session

““Thank you so much for the gorgeous photos, we love them ( I cried watching the slideshow). Thank you so so so much. I honestly did not expect so many incredible images. You have really captured just how special this moment in time is for our family.”
- Brit & Yianni

What to wear

In terms of clothing - you don’t want to be overdressed or underdressed either. Pick out something nice and yet comfortable as well to sit in or move about with ease. Try to stay away from any clothings with large logos or prints as they tend to age quite quickly over time.

In order to avoid any dramas & meltdowns during the session, make sure your kids will be comfortable in their outfits by letting them try out the clothing beforehand or giving a brand new outfit a wash first so the outfit isn’t too - as my 5 year old calls it “itchy or scratchy”. And if your kids are old enough, you can get them involved in the outfit picking process so that there are no surprises on the day of the session.

A good rule would be mum gets to choose what to wear, and then everyone else can coordinate around her. If you have similar coloured clothing, try to have it in different shades to avoid looking too matching. Also remember that the camera loves textures and detail.

Preparation is key

As a parent of 2 myself, I know how stressful it can be to manage tantrums and meltdowns of little ones. (And if it does happen, don’t worry about it - I’ve seen my fair share of it)

So here are some suggestions to prepare before our session together.

Talk to your kids in advance to prepare them of our session together.
Don’t make too big a deal out of it, we don’t want them to be anxious or nervous either. For younger kids, you can tell them a family friend is coming over to hang out and have fun!
Make sure everyone is well fed and rested before the session.
Have snacks ready to go in case the children get fussy or we need to use them as motivation.
A playlist of their favourite songs can be a good tool to whip out during the session.
Bug spray, especially if we are heading into garden.
Portable fans and cool drinks for hot weather sessions.
A change of clothes in case of accidents or if it’s just too hot & humid.

There are times during the session where a break is necessary and is very much welcomed.
I once photographed a family with 3 older children and we had a bubble tea break every 10 mins so that they didn’t end up feeling bored or frustrated. Till this day, their mum tells me they refer to me as the bubble tea man.

A family activity

For the first part (10-20 mins) of the photography session, it tends to be very child-led.
It's an opportunity for the children to get used to me and also a great way to ease into the photography session.

Think of an activity that your family does together - for example, this could be baking cookies together, making morning coffee and babycinos together or playing magnet tiles together. The everyday family rituals and routines are the ones that your children remember and are just as important as the milestones.
When there is an activity to focus on, everyone is a bit more relaxed which makes the whole process much smoother.

Tis the season

I would encourage you to think about what you want to remember about your children during this current season. It might be the dimples of his hands, the way she laughs and snorts when you blow on her tummy, the way her hair smells or the way he leans his head into yours as you lie in bed together.

Let me know on the day of the photography session, so that I can look out for those aspects.
My aim is to photograph your family in the most authentic way possible, so these little hints help me connect the dots to your family's story.

Embrace your inner child

Have fun, be silly, let the whimsy out.
My primary focus is to capture the joy and everyday magic of your family.
Be the tickle monster, have a dance party, ride on an imaginary ship, sing a silly song.
It may seem chaotic, but you will be getting the most authentic, joyful images you can imagine.

If your session is one big Bluey epsiode, that’s perfectly fine with me.

“From the great reviews I've read, I wondered how Jonathan would work his magic in capturing the special moments for our family.

What we received trumped our expectations. The photos which Jonathan took of our family were pure delight. Every moment, raw and candid, was beautifully captured. The chemistry that Jon was able to build with our 3 year old was evident in the photos too. I especially love the twinkle in my son's eyes when he looked back at the camera.

Thanks for allowing us to benefit from your craft and mastery. We hope you will continue to bless many more families and couples with your wonderful talent in the years to come.”
- Konnie & Ein