Shoot Your Own Family Photos
My husband and I have a love/hate relationship with Ikea. By that I mean: I love Ikea, and Jason hates it. In spite of our opposing views, objectively, several rooms in our home have been greatly improved upon by Ikea products. For example, every bedroom in our house has an Ikea closet system, which has made great use of our relatively small bedrooms.
Every time a shipment for a closet arrives at our house, I insist on building it all myself. I hoped by sparing Jason the frustration of assembling somewhat cheap furniture, I might be able to grow his appreciation for the functionality. But every time, I need his help. We always end up joking that premarital counseling should include assembling at least a couple of pieces of Ikea furniture.
I would love to have a home full of heirloom-quality furniture. But the reality of life is that sometimes, financial resources are tight and you have to fill the gaps with some creativity. In the same way that not every furniture purchase can be an heirloom investment, not every year is a year for professional photos. Every year is worth remembering, though, and I believe that moms are more than capable of capturing beautiful images of the life you want to remember.
Last year, I somehow missed the booking window for our photographer. How embarrassing, I thought to myself. While disappointed that I forgot to get it scheduled, I was actually a little excited at the thought of taking our own photos. I know each of my kids better than anyone. I love the place we are raising our family, and that it would be special to have photos of us just at home.
Equipment:
A camera or an iPhone (with a timer setting)
A tripod, or end table with books to prop your phone on
An adventurous and creative spirit
Tips to shooting your own family photos:
Plan it, don’t wing it. Treat your DIY photo session like a professional session. Put it on the calendar, select a location intentionally (your front or back yard is perfect, I promise). Shop for outfits, or curate from your own closet, and make sure you have something special to wear.
Consider the light:
Outdoor lighting considerations:
Open shade. Open shade will cast gentle, even light on everyone, eliminate harsh shadows, and make it easy to see those beautiful faces you love. Look for a spot where the trees or a building are casting a big, shady spot for everyone.
Full sun: if you’re feeling brave, you can try some full sun photos. Take a good look at everyone in the spot you choose. If you are seeing harsh shadows on their faces, consider repositioning, and try again.
Indoor lighting considerations: If you are working with an indoor space, you’re going to want to follow the natural light. Late morning or early afternoon might be best, but take a couple of days to watch the spaces and how the light changes during the day. Which rooms bring in the best light? If it’s an unexpected space, make it work! Use a stairway with a big window, the best naturally lit bedroom, or cozy up on the kitchen counter. Don’t be afraid to rearrange furniture and work your angles to capitalize on natural light.
You’re also going to want to turn off all the lights. I know, I know, that doesn’t make any sense. But artificial light will cast a different color than the daylight, causing funky hues and skin tones.
What kind of images do you want? Candid? Posed? A mix of both? Consider making a list of must-have images, but hold it loosely. Leave room for unexpected moments, because they are bound to happen.
Consider who your family is: What are some core memories from your year that you want a visual representation of? Missing teeth in a smile, a daughter who recently mastered her splits at gymnastics, a son who loves to shoot hoops in the driveway, a first grader who recently became a bookworm. Your family’s story is magic.
Use the timer setting for a photo with every family member, mom included. You can use a tripod to set this up, but I’ve been known to use just about anything. An end table with books stacked up and the phone propped just right. You can test it out beforehand, and you’ll be ready to go.
Bring the family into the creative process. Let the kids know they will each get a turn taking a photo of you and your spouse. Encourage connection between family members within the photos. Holding hands, piggie back rides, and slow motion walking together. Play red light green light to get relaxed movement and genuine smiles. Encourage fake laughs (and be OK with helping them reign it in if it’s a little extra). Be bold enough to ask your husband to get a photo of you with the kids, and explain how you’d like it framed. Check it and offer feedback.
Bonus challenge- if you’re an aspiring film photographer or have already dabbled in film, I’d encourage you to dedicate one roll of film to taking your own family photos. It will turn out to be such a fun collection.