H O L I D A Y G R A P H E R

Holidaygrapher Family Session Resource Guide

Holidaygrapher Family Session Resource Guide

WELCOME TO HOLIDAYGRAPHER FAMILY SESSION RESOURCE GUIDE!

Getting your business off the ground can be a tricky job full of learning curves and stressful work. We can’t eliminate all of your rising challenges but we certainly want to assist you and share resources that will make it easier to start off on the right foot. We know that successfully offering family sessions is at the heart of many photography businesses.

Here at Holidaygrapher, we strive to make your lives easier. We want you to spend less time hunting for the knowledge you need and more time with those in your life that matter most. That is why we have created this guide. We have included everything you need to know about offering family sessions in one easy-to-find location. Filled with insights and knowledge that has been acquired by our mentors over the course of years, this guide will save you time and money.

Hence, the creation of this guide. We have included all you need to know about offering family sessions in one easy-to-find place. Filled with tips and knowledge that has been acquired over the course of years, this guide will save you loads of time and money.

We are thankful that you are part of our community! We look forward to all that you share with us and hope that you find value in what we share with you. We are confident in your ability to become the photographer you aspire to be.

Respectfully,

The Holidaygrapher Team

Preparing for a Family Session

Preparing to have your family photographed is no easy task. Families can easily end up frazzled before the shutter is clicked. Enjoy these tips to ease the stress.

Family picture wearing white and blue outfits in the garden

Preparations Gets Results

Preparing for a family photoshoot not only allows you to understand what to expect during the session but also enables you to get the best opportunity for the perfect family shot.

We all know that it’s challenging to not only get your family all in the one place but to capture the perfect shot that captures the very essence of each and every in the photo.

In this article. We explore some simple tips for families ahead of their family photo session.

Choose Your Clothing Carefully

Avoid the temptation to wear clothes that may be ‘on trend’ as once your photo is sitting proudly on the mantelpiece, today’s fashions will quickly go out of style, and you’ll end up with a photo that is dated and might even make you cringe.

Create a look for the photo that weaves through each member of the family and consider the use of fabrics, colors and accents to ensure you’re all wearing clothing that brings out the most in your photos. Also avoid brands and big logos on your clothing, as it will detract from the image and make viewers focus on shirts and bold articles of clothing rather than the image as a whole.

Enjoy a Meal Together Before you Start the Session

Your session may run for a few hours, by the time you travel to your location, are photographed, and return home. Before you arrive, make sure your family is fed so that you don’t have issues with hunger pains during the session.

Plan your day so that you can enjoy breakfast or lunch together followed by the photography session and ensure everyone is rested and you work around naps for little children or babies.

Plan Ahead for Hair and Makeup

For moms or older members of the family, a family photo session is a perfect excuse to get your hair and makeup done. Take the time to get ready without stress and if you can indulge, get someone to do your hair and makeup so that you are feeling relaxed ahead of the shoot.

Have Fun as a Family Group

The idea of the family photo shoot is to capture your family naturally. So focus on choosing a place for the photoshoot that is fun for smaller family members and provides some great opportunities for the family to have some fun. Your local park, the beach or even your backyard are great places to set up for the shoot and allow your family to kick a ball around, or do things you would naturally do together.

Family photo sessions are a wonderful opportunity to capture the special memories for your family and if you are looking for timeless and stunning images of your family, keeping the tips above in mind will allow for an enjoyable family photo session packed with plenty of great shots for you to enjoy in the future.

Working with Babies and Toddlers

Babies and toddlers are some of the more unpredictable clients you will experience. Follow these tips and tricks to get authentic results in your family photography.

A boy in the front of his parents

Understand Your Subjects

Working with kids and animals is often a tough gig. However, if you are in the business of providing family photoshoots, you will need to have a few magic tricks up your sleeve to ensure you are getting the best shots for your clients.

Children and toddlers can be adorable, yet if they are tired, hungry or bored, you could wind up with a difficult little one to manage and having a few tricks and tips available to get you through the session successfully is a must-have for a budding photographer.

Next time you have a family photoshoot with a baby or toddler, consider the following ideas to get the best result from the session.

Keep it Natural

Remove the temptation to say ‘cheese’ when you are photographing kids. Little ones tend to put on a photo face when asked, and you might want a more natural look for the photos. So avoid this at all cost so that you can capture real and timeless images.

Try and take photos when the child is least expecting it or from unique angles. You can also photograph them from behind or when they are busy in their own world playing or exploring the area around them.

Relax and Keep it Very Flexible

Your vibe is easily read by children and if you are going to do a photography shoot with a baby or a toddler, to keep them relaxed, you will need to be relaxed as well. So chill and go with the flow and you will get a better result from the little ones.

You might also want to arrive a little earlier than the start time to get to know the child, so that they are familiar with you. Silly faces with toddlers and playing peekaboo might also help to warm them up.

Keep Mom and Dad Cool as a Cucumber

Often mom and dad want the session to go smoothly and this angst can wind up little children. So if possible, focus on keeping mom and dad relaxed and if you are doing a shot without the entire family, encourage the parents to have a bit of fun and relax so that there is calm for the entire group.

The experience is supposed to be a fun one. So assure the parents that you will take lots of photos and the kids can have a play and you will capture them regardless of whether they are sitting still or not.

Let Kids Explore and Be Themselves

No child likes sitting still, so for the best results, let the children you are photographing explore and be themselves so you can capture them in their natural play environment. Kids aren’t always fantastic at taking direction and if you let them explore and experiment, you can often capture some truly authentic images for the family.

Treat Little Ones with Respect

Little people are super intelligent, no matter their age. So if you want them to follow instructions or get involved in the shoot, it is best to respect them, breathe deeply and just go with the flow. Don’t limit your creativity and explore each family session as a new opportunity.

Working with kids, whether they are babies or toddlers, can be a juggling act at times. But if done well, you can get the most out of your family photography sessions.

If you focus on being chilled and allow children of all ages to explore their natural environment, you should be able to capture the true essence of their personality for parents, allowing for a spectacular keepsake for many years to come.

How to Price Your Photography: Family Sessions

Family photography sessions are the heart and soul of many photography businesses. Learning how to price them will help you run a successful business.

Family picture smiling and wearing white and blue outfits

Your Service is Valuable

Family photo sessions are a wonderful way for families to capture milestones and freeze moments in time forever.

Capturing moments in time that are natural and fun for years to come is a skill, and if you are a family photographer, you’ll be well aware of all the essential elements of creating a successful family photoshoot. The big question is what’s a good price for a family shoot? What is too little or too much and what do families need to be included in their session?

If you’re in the process of working out your photography price list or you want to ensure your price point is competitive, here are some things to consider.

Type of Photographer

Based on the type of photographer you are, your price point will differ. If you are new to the business, you might offer a lower price point of $50 to $100 for a session of a set period and offer prints and digital photos at an additional price.

If you are an independent and established photographer, the price of your session might be anywhere from $300 to $500+ for the session plus additional costs based on the style of the shoot and the location.

How to Price Your Family Photography Session

The question of the perfect price is a tricky one; here are a few variables that you need to consider when you are determining what to charge your customers:

Equipment: What are you using for the shoot? Is it high-end gear and what do you need lighting wise? The equipment can change the price of the session considerably so understand what you need to create the look you are after.

Location: If you are conducting your sessions in your studio, you can charge a set price. However, if you are going to a beach, the client’s home or another chosen location, the cost could change as well. Added to this, you might even need a backup shooter, so be sure to factor this into the cost.

Length of the session: The length of the session can vary from one to three hours. So price your hourly rate into the session cost. Make sure to cover this and travel time as well.

Props: Do you need to bring and arrange props for the family? Consider this in your price, especially if it is in a studio environment and they request a specific backdrop.

Inclusions: Will you be providing just the session only or are you including a disc of the edited prints as well in the price? You can include a set number of edited prints in the price or provide the entire disc including all images that haven’t been edited.

Options for extras: You might consider adding in printed canvas, prints of images chosen from the gallery, additional touched-up images out of your set number of photo inclusions, albums and more to your package price. The choice is yours.

Marketing costs: You need to exhibit your work, network with clients, take part in photography contests, advertise, create a great portfolio website and undertake digital marketing activities. These costs add up and are essential to growing your business.

Professional services: Your business will require special services as an account, web designer or assistants.

Pricing is Important

Family portrait sessions can often have lots of subjects, so creating the perfect final result that everyone will be happy with can be a challenge. The key is to ensure that you are charging enough to cover your hourly rate including the session plus post-production time in the editing suite.

If you want to ensure you are earning a healthy income, you will need to competitively price, so that you make it worth your while.

What to Include in Your Family Photography Session Package

Packages are a simple solution for families purchasing your product. Learn what to include that will have your clients reaching for their wallet!

Parents smiling while facing their daughter

Customers Love a Package

No matter what service you’re selling, customers love a package. Whether you’re able to save some money or get more value for your money, when it comes to photography, creating a package is one of the simplest and most popular ways to offer services.

Clients without an understanding of photography and the costs involved love the idea of being able to choose from a range of packages to ensure they are getting inclusions that suit their needs.

So if you’re just starting out in the biz or if you’re curious what others are including in their family photography packages, here are a few ideas of what you might want to include in your family photography session package.

Basic Package Inclusions

  • Photoshoot of a set period (1 to 2 hours is a good length) at a location of their choice in your local area.
  • Editing, basic retouching and processing of photos.
  • Photos uploaded to a private cloud-based drive with password for viewing.
  • One or more printed 8 x 10 photos (or a size of their choice).

Extra Options for Family Photo Packages

  • Detailed editing
  • Printing of colour or black and white images
  • Creation of family album - including printing
  • Additional travel (further than a set range of miles from thes studio)
  • Canvas or framed prints of the session
  • Hair and makeup or styling
  • Pets or extended family members
  • Personal viewing session and ordering at the studio

Make Package Options Clear

At the end of the day, you need to understand what your clients want and take the time to research your market and gather some feedback about your packages. Is the information clear enough? Are you providing a clear and concise range of inclusions? Are you providing genuine value to the families? The key is to create valuable packages that suit your client’s needs and provides plenty of options for all budgets.

Don’t assume your clients will be mind readers when it comes to package inclusions. Have a few options for your packages clearly listed on your Facebook page or website to ensure all inclusions and add-ons are crystal clear.

Pricing Your Mini Session

Mini sessions are a great way to introduce new clients to your work or just provide a fun option for your current clients. Make sure to keep them mini.

A mother with her daughter wearing orange dresses in the front of the temple

Mini Sessions are—MINI

Mini photography sessions are not just a great way to dip your new client’s toe in the water for a photoshoot but also a great way to have a lot of potential customers come through your studio doors on one day, allowing you to enjoy a fun and busy day meeting and photographing a variety of subjects in short and sharp sessions.

Usually lasting around 15 minutes to 30 minutes, mini sessions are perfect for small children and a fantastic way to create a fun and popular marketing concept that allows for a broader audience to test out your offering.

If you’re looking to try mini sessions for your photography business, but aren’t sure what to add as optional extras, here are a few ideas for inclusions so that you can price your session to provide both—value for money for your clients and enough money to cover your expenses and get a return that is worth your while. 

Here are a few things to consider for your mini session:

Figure Out the Mini Session Details

Before you even draft up a flyer or create the mini session event, you should first determine the what, where and when of your mini session. Understand what is the concept, where you will hold them and what you will be offering.

Often mini sessions are created ahead of a seasonal event such as Easter, Christmas or even Valentines Day. So perhaps use your studio space to create a themed area that you can photograph your subjects in using a set number of props.

You should also determine the date and the times for your session and have a strict policy for arriving and departing. If you only have a 15 to 30-minute window for your sessions, your subjects need to be organised, especially if you are photographing children or babies. Provide all the info in a format that is easily read so that families understand what is expected.

Pricing Your Mini Sessions

When you are creating mini sessions, it is key to first determine what you want to earn from the sessions and then work backward. Consider the following:

  • How many sessions you want to take on and the time slot (15 or 30 minutes)
  • TIme you will spend culling, designing, editing and preparing files for delivery
  • The income you would like to earn from the sessions in total

Based on this, you total the profit goal and divide it by the number of sessions which will provide the price you should charge per session.

Determine What to Include and What are Add-Ons

Inclusions for mini sessions might cover the following:

  • 15 to 30 minutes session
  • Private online gallery of 10 to 15 images
  • All images in gallery retouched
  • Holiday ornament with one chosen image inside
  • Slideshow link to show friends and family

Add-ons for mini sessions can also include:

  • Holiday cards - you can choose the amount for this
  • Additional holiday ornament options
  • Printed images
  • Canvases
  • Adhesive labels for your cards

Generate New Business

Mini sessions are a great way to generate new business and show new customers your talent. Consider creating mini sessions a few times a year to add some marketing events to your business calendar and showcase your work to a new audience without the need for them to fork out for a full session.

Once you begin booking more clients that want full sessions on a regular basis, you can decrease the number of mini sessions you offer. Consider offering a theme to your mini sessions or possibly a location is often photographed or even a shoot with special props. Mini sessions are also a great way to offer sessions outside your normal location or for a special holiday.

Family Photos Ultimate Checklist

Check that you've done everything possible to ensure that your next family session goes as smoothly as possible. These pointers, as well as the checklist below, should be useful.

Parents watching their daughter floating in the air at the beach

Photographing a family is a unique skill—throw in a few kids and the family pet, and your two-hour session may require the patience of a saint.

There are a few things to think about before diving into a family shoot that will help you ensure that your photography session goes smoothly and that you capture the perfect shot, all while your gaggle of family members has a good time.

We've shared our family shoot checklist to help you make sure you're prepared and ready to maximize your clients' experience and streamline your processes at your next family shoot

Get to Know Your Client and Understand What They Expect

This is a lovely tip that will help you capture the essence of what your client is looking for in their family photos. When it comes to photos, you rarely get a second chance, so understanding what your client is looking for is critical.

Send a questionnaire out before the session and have a talk over the phone to obtain an insight of the client’s personality and what they have in mind so you can get a feel for the style of the shoot.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

When you have a large family, there will be a flyaway hair or a wrinkle here and there in clothing. First and foremost, concentrate on capturing the perfect photo with no shadows on faces or difficulties with light. Remember that you can always go back and conduct minimal editing afterwards.

You may also need to restrain family members from time to time, especially if there is a large gathering. So be firm (in a polite manner) and make sure everyone is listening to you and following directions so you can capture the photos you require.

Think about the Family Pose.

Will the photograph be Candid or formal? Will you be shooting an activity photo of the family playing on the beach, or will your client like a more organised and formal posture of everyone gathered around the family matriarch? In order to determine what style is suitable, ask ahead of time.

Have some fun with it and improvise.

When you're a family photographer, you have to toss your plans out the window and just go with the flow. The ideal photo may come as a complete surprise. You could discover that your favourite photo is a fun and candid photograph that was unexpected, such as a little child playing hide and seek or a particular moment between father and daughter.

Mix It Up When Posing

Avoid the urge to arrange all of the family members in a straight line by age group. That will appear unnatural—consider less of a procession line and more of an unorganised arrangement that adds depth to the image.

Allow the family to take the lead and think of some creative ways to approach the Pose. Photograph youngsters at their level and switch up age groupings to provide diversity to the photo. Make your posed photographs as short and painless as possible, especially if there are family pets or fidgeting kids around.

The secret to intriguing and natural family photography is to appreciate your surroundings and photograph families in places they appreciate. If it means going to the beach for a sand shot or photographing a family playing in the park, so be it. There are many wonderful possibilities for family photography, and if you follow the advice above, you'll be able to get the perfect family portrait in no time.

Following is the ultimate checklist for clicking family photos:

Communicate with the Family: Call or text them to learn about their unique family characteristics and interesting activities they like doing together. Check to see whether you understand what they expect from you. A questionnaire may also be useful in gathering the information you require.

Learn Names and Greet the Family: Before the session, do everything you can to memorize and recall family names. Introduce yourself and interact with the children. Inform them of how much fun they will have.

Share the Plan of Action: Run through a plan of action with the parents to help them know what to expect and to reduce their anxiety. Say something like, "You are here to celebrate your beautiful family and to have fun." Allow me to take the lead in capturing the greatest moments of your family.”

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Make sure to get the shot set as best as possible (lighting, posing, etc.) but remember you can do minor editing later.

Have Fun and Be Silly: Spend some time telling jokes or having the family dance together. Allow siblings to tickle, tell secrets, and hug each other while you capture those moments.

FInd Pockets of Connection:Look for a mother and her child holding hands. If a baby is there, have mum hold them and massage their hair or dance with them. Pose the family, but have them believe they're on a picnic. Keep an eye on how they interact.

Wrap Up Your Session with a Smile: End the session with a happy smile and new friends

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