Natalie, Libby and Lia from plutonium sox blog

Top 6 Tips for DIY Family Photo Shoots

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Family photo shoots can be fun yet challenging at once. On the one hand, it’s a great way to gather the family together in one location to catch up and at the same time have fun, memorable moments captured in photos. On the other hand, family photo shoots often involve coordination with a large number of people, which can get stressful quickly.

However, family photo shoots don’t always have to be a grand affair. You can arrange the shoot to be much more intimate with a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to get a more homely vibe. Here are some tips on how to make a DIY family photo shoot a success.

1. Have the Right Equipment On Hand

When doing a DIY family photo shoot, you’ll want to make sure that all the equipment you need is ready so everything can proceed as smoothly as possible. More than just which camera to use, your equipment should also include peripherals such as tripods, extra lenses, backdrops, or lighting equipment. You may consider looking into camera rental services in case you think a different camera will better suit your needs for the shoot.

For a more budget-friendly setup, then you can always make use of what’s available in the shoot location instead of bringing extra props. For example, rather than carrying lighting equipment with you, you can instead make use of natural lighting by shooting some or all of the photos outdoors. You may have to account for more variables with your camera settings considering you can’t control natural lighting, but the shots will surely be worth it.

2. Choose a Shoot Location that Works Best for the Family

Take extra care in choosing the location for the photo shoot, making sure to take various considerations in mind. Foremost would be the size of location. DIY family photo shoots typically take place at a family member’s home, but what if it can’t accommodate the entire group? If so, scouting for other locations such as a park or even a studio could help alleviate the problem.

Comfort is another key consideration, especially if you’ve got kids and elderly as part of the photo shoot. If the location is outdoors, make sure there’s an area nearby to get shade from the sun and rest. Meanwhile, if it’s indoors, check to see that it’s well-ventilated or has facilities such as restrooms or free-use areas for taking breaks.

Two girls in warm clothing posing in a light tunnel at Winter Glow

3. Prepare the Kids for the Photo Shoot

It’s no surprise that when it comes to family photo shoots, kids can be the most difficult factor to deal with. Some children may feel impatient and refuse to cooperate as you’re trying to take the shot; some may even throw a tantrum, which can put the shoot on indefinite delay.

To reduce the possibility of such things from happening, remind the parents beforehand to ensure their children are well-rested and have had their meals before the shoot. You may also want to bring snacks to the shoot in case the kids get a bit peckish during the shoot. In addition, instead of forcing the kids to pose for certain shots, just let them play and take those photos instead. Not only will this approach make kids much more relaxed, these scenes also make for more fun and natural pictures.

4. Ask the Family Members to Wear Comfortable Clothes

Some photo shoots can take hours to finish, so remind everyone to wear comfortable clothes. This doesn’t mean they can’t wear anything fancy, of course, but rather that their outfit of choice should be something that they can easily wear for extended periods. You can also advise your family members on this matter depending on where the shoot will be held. For example, if it’s outdoors, then wearing breathable clothing that’s easy to move in is a must.

For your DIY photo shoot, you may also opt to frame the photos as capturing the family members in their natural element and everyone can simply wear clothing that they like the most. This eliminates the need to painstakingly keep track of whether or not everyone’s clothes are up to the theme or matches with the group. While the trade-off is having uniformity in your shots, you at least make the family members involved feel much more relaxed and comfortable, which can result in better shots.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Capture Spontaneity

Family photo shoots don’t have to be such a formal affair. While some instruction can help in achieving excellent shots, don’t be afraid to embrace spontaneity as well. In fact, this is perhaps the selling point of a DIY photo shoot: that you get to capture all those candid, lighthearted moments between the family members since there are no stiff guidelines to follow.

Two girls wearing wetsuits dancing on a paddleboard on the sea with a bridge and beach in the background

6. Use Editing Tools to Polish Your Photos

After the photo shoot, don’t just send the photos as is. Instead, take the time to polish them first using photo editing software. This includes adjusting brightness, setting the right colour balance, or even removing small elements such as dirt or a stray item that’s too distracting to be on the shot. In a DIY photo shoot, there’s certainly bound to be many of the latter so make sure you clean them up first.

Your DIY family photo shoot doesn’t have to be a stressful affair. With the help of the tips above, you can certainly make the shoot a success as you capture all those memorable family moments in each photo.

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