How to make your family photos unique? | Spokane Family Photographer

How to make your family photos unique? | Spokane Family Photographer

So many families are bored with traditional family photos and are looking for a fresh approach to their yearly family photo tradition. Every family I work with is completely unique and therefore shouldn’t all be treated completely the same. Here are my best tips for making your family photos unique and how to put a fresh spin on your annual tradition..

Start with who your family is.

What do you like to do for fun? Where do you like to go on Saturdays? What is different about your family? What do you value? Are you calm? Do you giggle a lot? Do you go hiking? Do you spend Saturday at the farmers market? There are so many ways to make your pictures stand out. So always begin by thinking about who you are, maybe jot down some ideas and talk it through with your family and photographer.

What do you want your photos to look and feel like?

The feeling you get when looking at your photos is almost more important than what the actual photos look like, so think about this when planning your session. Do you want your photos to look joyful? Or maybe you want them to be a little bit intense. How intimate do you want your photos to feel? Do you want to let other people see a glimpse into your life? If you were to put your photos on the wall, what kinds of colors would you like them to have? Maybe a little bit earthy? Or maybe you like more of an urban look with the concrete and brick with some pops of color? Answering these questions will help you plan your unique family photo session.

Next, let’s narrow down some ideas. Here are some of my best ideas for family photo inspiration to help your photos really grab attention and look nothing like the families around you.

Location Inspiration:

Location matters so much. The location of your photos will set the stage for the activity during the session, the colors that will be present in your photos and what type of attire that you wear. Here are my favorite location options.-River/Lake

-Beach

-Mountain

-Field

-Urban

-Industrial

-Home

-Farm

-Farmer’s Market

-Fair

Wardrobe Inspiration:

Dress it up or dress it down, it’s up to you. What does your family like to dress like? Here are some of my favorite wardrobe items for family photos.

(FOR MOM)

-Dress (Dresses are almost fool-proof for family photos, they flatter every body type and create femininity and movement in photos.)

-Romper (A great alternative if dresses aren’t your thing.)

-Cardigan (Adding layers to any outfit will give extra feelings of warmth in photos.)

-Leggings and sweaters (This is a great option for in-home family photos that are cozy and cuddly)

-Denim (Always a timeless classic, pair them with a white t-shirt or cute blouse and be sure your family is dressed somewhat casually to pair with them)

(FOR DAD)

-Jeans and a t-shirt (Choose a t-shirt that is darker than whatever mom is wearing, you don’t have to wear black, but a shade or two darker adds a masculine element)

-Chinos and a button up (This is the best choice to pair with mom when she wears a dress)

-Joggers and a t-shirt (A great option for in-home photos for a cozy look)

-Work pants and boots (If your family is the adventurous type and you want outdoorsy pictures, this is a great option)

(FOR THE KIDS)

-Dress

-Romper

-Coveralls

-Button ups and khakis

-Fitted Onesies

Whatever you choose for your kids, make sure they are equally dressed up with the parents as far as level of casualness goes)

Activity Inspiration:

Choosing an activity for a more documentary style family photo shoot can be another great option for unique family photos. Every family has activities that they like to do together, this can be a good way to document your family doing something they really love together. I’m always for preserving the season your in with your family photos.

-Cuddling at home or a cabin

-Fishing

-Paddleboarding

-Gardening

-Baking cookies or a cake

-Horseback riding

-Farm life

-Rock Climbing

-Camping

-Exploring a field

The options are absolutely endless. Just know that your photos do not have to look like everyone else’s. You can get as creative as you want with your family pictures and I promise people will still stop and ask about them when they’re on your wall.

Definitely make sure you hire a photographer who is open to a more unique idea, most photographers are not, because they are worried about having very consistent portfolios. I specialize in this type of photography, so there’s no fear here with doing something a little bit out of the box. Don’t forget to book family photos when you’re traveling on vacation, that’s a great way to save the memory and get photos that are unique from what all your friends at home have.

Interested in booking a unique, activity-based family session with Britt Harvey in Spokane, Wasington?

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