How to Take Your Own Family Photos

Inside: It’s no small feat to try to take on the task of taking your own family photos! Whether it’s at home, outdoors or on vacation you can take your own family pictures with the help of these tips to save your sanity- How to Take Your Own Family Photos!

How to Take Your Own Family Photos

1- Choose Family Outfits that Coordinate Wondering what to wear for family photos? Don’t go match-y. Coordinate! I always say to start with mom’s outfit first because we are the hardest to please. Then coordinate everyone to you!

2- Coordinate Your Colors with Your Home Decor This sounds weird but if your home is eclectic go with fun and bright colors, if your home is warm tones think warm tones in your outfits don’t go with neon colors! I share more thoughts over on What to Wear for Spring Family Pictures

3- Choose a location that fits your families personality If you love going to the water for family outings go there for pictures, if you like to go to the park and climb trees find a neat nature spot to create your portraits at.

4- Showcase your kids personalities For your kids individual shots let them bring along something they enjoy doing i.e. a hobby or something they are attached too if they are young. Showcase their personalities during these pictures and even let them do a silly face or two!

5- Prep Equipment Make sure your memory cards are ready and your batteries are charged!

6-Use the Self Timer or Hand Held Device If you aren’t sure how to use your self timer get your handy manual out and learn so that you can jump in the picture 10 seconds after pressing your shutter! Some choose a hand held device to press the shutter, both options are great here!

7- Should you use a Tripod or not? If you have one, sure why not! If you don’t I wouldn’t go to great lengths to buy one…especially if you can get creative and use the back of your car or a table or something close by to set your camera on. That is as long as it’s steady and stable!!!

8- How do you get the kids to all look at the camera AND smile?!?! Honestly I have found if I act silly before I push the shutter, then I run to the family the kids attention is on the camera that is blinking red and beeping! It’s always been a charm for me!

As Kristen of Capturing Joy shares you can always tape a stuffed animal to the top of your camera! Hey you never know until you try it, right?!

9- Editing Your Pictures Choose what images are your favorite and get those edited to your liking.

When to Take Christmas Card Photos

10- Don’t post on Social Media...WHY? don’t spoil the surprise mail for your loved ones and relatives! If you are like me I always use our Fall Family pictures for our holiday Christmas card that is going out to our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and more!!! This year for our card I chose the NEW! Personalized Foil Cards with Tiny Prints!

This year your Christmas cards can be a breeze…spend less time on your cards and more time with your family!! I didn’t have to worry about my return address because Tiny Prints does that for FREE…all I have to do is stuff and send…so easy!

We chose our family pictures for our card but you could choose some traveling photos, announce a new baby or new home or make use of taking family photos with your iphone and all those #selfies in your Insta feed with Tiny Prints cards!

I love the final touches I could put on my cards including the amazing liners for my custom envelopes where I could put a message, so as the recipient opens it they see a verse, how neat is that? You really can customize your cards to fit your pictures and your taste so perfectly!

Hi I’m Erin a Southern mama from South Mississippi, owner and chief editor of Sixth Bloom a blog helping mom-tographers capture their kiddos and life, talking all things home, parenting and how we navigate through life. You will find me living life to the fullest with my mister (aka husband) and our little one year old, Miss Elle, in our 500+ sq foot cottage as we build our dream house on our two acres! We are blessed beyond measure, love to travel, involved in ministry at our church and in between all of that I run three successful businesses!

Follow me at: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Comments

Helen says
November 17, 2016 at 8:52 am
I would get Paisley crystals!
Jamey Wilson says
November 17, 2016 at 5:10 pm
The foil stamped cards are so pretty. I would chose the one entitled “Great Delight.”
Michelle says
November 17, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Hi Erin, I really enjoyed these tips. As per the giveaway, I would choose Chic Band as my Thank you cards.
Fayelle says
November 18, 2016 at 5:08 am
These are great tips! Maybe, just MAYBE, I can get my act together and we can do our own this year!
Christina skinner says
November 18, 2016 at 5:50 pm
What great designs! I like three whimsical rainbow because I have 3 kids so the bottom leaves a spot for each individual shot.
Melissa says
November 23, 2016 at 9:23 pm
I’d chose Impeccable Wishes foil stamped. Thanks for the tips and chance to win!
Chassidi says
November 24, 2016 at 9:04 am
I would choose Stunning Gleam. I’ve been wanting to take my own family photos for a while! Thanks for the tips!

How to Take Your Own Family Photos