FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER ORANGE COUNTY
How to create flow during Your family sessions

Holiday photography season is in full bloom and the family photographers of Orange County are more busy than ever.

I’d love to share some insight in how I set up my flow during my family sessions. Many times it can feel a bit chaotic if You arrive without a game-plan, so heres my thoughts on it.

I tend to start with sitting down poses if possible. We get everyone going and I make sure I get those ‘look in the camera and smile’ out of the way. I bring blankets or quilts to my sessions for my clients to sit on. Great resources for vintage quilts are flea markets, vintage shops, goodwill and etsy. I make sure I capture all the kids by themselves for individual portraits, but in different spots. Creating unique setups for each and every child gives the gallery so much variety.

For the sitting down I prefer to shoot with my 35mm or 50mm lenses. They’re both great focal lengths for those close ups, You can move around to get close ups or full body shots. Once we start moving around I love to switch up to my 85mm or 135mm. I let everyone wander around a bit to get any wiggles out 🙂

With a longer focal length You can get some amazing ‘candid’ shots. Don’t give to many instructions and let everyone have some ‘free play’ 🙂 When arriving at Your location, make sure You know how the sun is moving. Will this spot be all shaded in 20 minutes? Follow the light. always <3 If You’re in a woodsy area, begin deep in the ‘woods’ and move out as the sun sets. Towards the end of Your session, You can usually get some good ‘snuggly’ shots. The kids are getting tired and want mom/dad/brother/sister to hold them.. super cute! If you need to (and with moms permission), this can also be a good time to bring out those ‘bribes/prices’. A handful of m&m’s or fruitsnacks can get most kids trough those last 5 minutes of photographing 🙂