It’s that time of year again and families all over the United States are getting ready for their annual family portrait. It’s also the time of year where moms all over the United States are in a panic.  They’re worried about how to dress the family so that the portrait looks presentable. If you’d like tips for choosing everyone’s outfit, read this blog post from last year.  In the mean time, here are five additional tips for creating beautiful, stunning images of your family!

DO NOT dress in all white.  Nothing says 1992 more than an entire family dressed in white shirts and blouses.  I know, I know.  It’s easy for everyone to show up wearing white and it’s a lot less stressful (at least until someone gets bar-b-q sauce on their shirt).  BUT, it’s not very pretty.  Be modern, be stylish!  Coordinate colors without matching!  (Bonus: Please avoid cliché poses!  No crazy ideas about holding hands and jumping in the air!)

If one (or all) of the kids start to get figgity, please just try to ignore it.  More often than not, when you try to correct the behavior, it only exacerbates the problem.  If the kids are the only ones in the image, instead of yelling at them from behind the photographer’s back, just turn away and try to focus on something else for a few minutes.  If your photographer needs your help, they’ll ask for parental intervention.

Despite the urge, try to refrain from telling anyone in the image how to pose.  Trust your photographer to pose each person in the image in the most flattering way.

Don’t ask your kids to practice their smile before the session.  Usually when a child has been coached to smile on picture day, their smiles appear forced and look awkward.  Trust your photographer to get a genuine smile out of you and your youngsters (and avoid saying “cheese” during the family session)!

The last bit of advice is so simple, it hurts.  Relax.

Until next time, be positive, happy, and healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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I am a San Antonio-based wedding and senior photographer who started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. As one of the up-and-coming San Antonio wedding photographers, I am also available to shoot in Austin, Houston and Dallas and the surrounding areas. I am also available for destination weddings worldwide. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget.  As a professional photographer, my sole purpose is to provide you the absolute best photography experience.

I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Tips for Family Portraits, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.