Creative Photo Session Ideas

Listen, I’m 100% here for a lifestyle family photo session at a local Pittsburgh park. But what if the park vibe just isn’t for you? Or maybe you love that look but you’ve already done it year after year? Here are some creative photo session ideas. (Translation: please book me for one of these, because they all sound super fun, and I want to capture those dreamy photos for you…)

1) Get Messy with Paint

Pick your favorite paint colors and some white or neutral clothing that can get dirty. (PSA: Crayola paints are insanely washable…like more so than any marker or crayon.) We hang up a white sheet behind you. Paint the sheet, paint on an easel and canvas, or paint each other! Snuggle your toddler, kiss your spouse, let the breeze blow your hair. Let’s listen to your favorite songs and have fun! I think this could be such a fun family session but would also work great for a couple (engagement? anniversary? just because?). This is one of my Pinterest dreams, so here’s an example from another photographer!

*The photo below was shot by Laura Ingebrand in Des Moines*

2) Floral Crowns and Pretty Dresses

Hire an incredible florist (like Field & Hand or The Farmer’s Daughter) or make a DIY flower crown out of Trader Joe’s flowers or artificial flowers (see how HERE). Make this a fun mommy & me session for girls of any age! Or maybe a maternity session with all the floral goodness?! Pair the florals with flowy dresses (perhaps you all need a 2nd occasion to wear your Easter attire?). Bring dad if you want, and we’ll get some full family shots too. Or skip that and just let it be a girls session. (Or heck, my 4 year old son would probably love this too!) We can take photos at one of my favorite go-to spots or maybe head to Simmons for summer flower picking.

3) Do What You Love Doing as a Family

The world is your oyster! Having an activity can make photos more interesting and authentic. The real questions is - what do you guys love doing?

-Love feeding your chickens? Let’s do a coop session!

-Is bath time your absolute favorite time with your baby? Let’s capture that!

-Enjoy family walks and picnics? Let me be your paparazzi!

-Can’t wait for Pirates season? Get dressed in your game gear, and we’ll snap some city shots before the next game.

-Love making homemade pizza together? 100%, let’s do it.

These types of photo shoots are perfect for families who feel stuck in a rut. It’s also great for families who feel stiff and uncomfortable in front of the camera. I’m always here to help you look and feel natural and beautiful, but sometimes adding an activity can make all the difference. Click HERE to reach out, and we can start planning out your next family photo shoot in the Pittsburgh area!

The M Family requested photos at Randyland!

The B Family books a yearly session each spring at their home!

Tips for Lifestyle Family Photos

Do you ever see photos of families on Instagram and feel like you’ll never have photos like that because your family just isn’t “photogenic”? Perhaps you’ve even hired a professional photographer before, but all you got were forced smiles. Well gone are the days of stiff, heavily posed family photos. The great news is that anyone can get beautiful lifestyle family photos if they have the right approach. Here are my top 3 tips for swoon-worthy family photos, even if you don’t categorize your family as “photogenic.”

1) HAVE FUN!: I know it sounds cheesy, but there’s really something to it! View your photo session as an hour of family fun time. If you focus on having fun with your family, your photos will naturally emit joy. Step 1 is to get your spouse on board. Your kids will feed off the energy of their parents. Step 2 is presenting the photo session to your kids as a fun opportunity for play. Here’s an example:

“Hey! I’m super excited because today we get to go to the park as a family and play together! This will be a little different from other times we’ve gone to the park, but it’s going to be SO fun! My friend Ms Kelsey will be there taking pictures, and she’s super silly. I can’t wait to hang out with you and Daddy, and I’m excited to show you the pictures later. Do you think we should take a picture of you on Daddy’s shoulders?”

2) SKIP THE BRIBES: The belief that photo-taking is a painful experience is a *learned belief*. In my experience, kids have a blast and are often sad for it to end. So instead of offering up bribes at shot number 1, keep them in your back pocket and only bring them out if necessary. Offering bribes signals to your kid that they’re doing something they don’t want to be doing. But remember…if the parents are on board and having fun…kids will feed off of that energy and have fun too!

3) CHOOSE THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER: The photographer you choose MATTERS! If you want all the beautiful in-between moments, dreamy behind-the-scenes type shots, and joyful laughter, you need to hire a photographer that specializes in this. Any photographer you’re considering should have an online gallery full of photos that are aspirational for you. If you don’t want a super posey photographer, don’t hire the photographer that features loads of posey shots in their portfolio. If you want a photographer who is great with young kids, hire a photographer who shows lots of photos with young kids in their portfolio. Don’t assume that we all do everything! For example… I’m absolute garbage at taking inspiring landscape photos. I hate doing it, and it shows! A photographer’s website shows their best work. Don’t assume they specialize in anything other than what they’re showing you.

Now get out there a book a photographer you vibe with! You won’t regret capturing memories with your family :)

Why Hire a Professional?

My kids are now 1 and 3.5, and WOW is it hard to get a decent photo of our crew! My son likes to turn around so his back is to the camera. If he decides to be helpful, he’ll try to get my 1 year old to smile…which backfires, in that he’s never looking at the camera! Despite my best efforts, every time I hand my camera to a friend or family member to *try* to take a photo of everyone looking and smiling…it turns out pretty terribly. And let’s all keep in mind, that I am a professional family photographer with the newest and best camera.

So what have I learned? That my family has leveled up into desperately NEEDING a professional behind the camera. And not just any professional…we need someone who understands how kids work. We need someone who can manage camera settings, get the attention of TWO children, and entertain them in a way that achieves natural smiles. It’s no easy job!

One of my favorite compliments I get from parents is when they refer to me as a “magician.” It holds all new meaning to me now! When I stand behind the camera, I jump around, fake sneeze, run back and forth, and do all sorts of silly things with my little stuffed monkey friend. If you’re a client of mine with small children, I’m sure you’re familiar with all of these tactics! I look like an absolute lunatic, I’m sure! But boy is it worth the smiles…

I love lifestyle imagery full of laughter and hugs and play, but I’m absolutely guilty of wanting to have just 1 shot of everyone smiling and looking. So if you value this type of photo (even if just occasionally), do yourself a favor and hire a professional!

Now please enjoy a few recent shots of my family that were…less than ideal…

This may sound shocking, but these were the photos that I didn’t delete. Meaning that they were the halfway decent ones (or at least worth a laugh). And no…my son was definitely not asleep in that last one. He was just feeling very 3.

But here’s proof that he genuinely smiles for photos sometimes:

Listen, it’s not easy. Photographing kids is HARD sometimes. And I have no expectation that my friends and family will do the sorts of crazy things I do behind the camera! And that is precisely why I will have a professional take photos of my family next time. I hope you’ll do the same!