As mums, we generally don’t get in front of a camera lens very often.
We’re usually the one taking the photos of our children and family members. So, it’s unsurprising then that most mums don’t actually have that may photographs of themselves.
Add to that, the fact that we can be our own worst critics.
We tell ourselves that we don’t look how we want to look, or how we feel we should look.That we should drop a dress size, get a whole new wardrobe, have a haircut or slap on a tonne of makeup before we will feel comfortable in front of a camera.
These are common reasons why mums put off booking a family photoshoot.
I know because they are thoughts that I’ve had myself in the past.
But also, I know this to be true because so many of my portrait clients over the years have confided in me. They tell me that they wish that they had come to have professional photographs taken sooner. They admit that they’ve put it off for far too long.
Putting off that family photoshoot? Please don’t!
The truth is how you look right now is exactly how your children will want to remember you. So, there is really no need to shy away from being photographed.
Whether it’s when your partner attempts to take a snapshot of you with the children on their smartphone, or when you visit a professional family portrait photographer like me, try to embrace the opportunity to have your photograph taken.
Don’t cringe, hide your face with your hand or groan!
I guarantee that you, your partner, your children and even their children in years to come will all be glad that you got in front of the camera and agreed to have your photograph taken.
Debunking the myths about the perfect family photograph
The whole point is this. The idea of a ‘perfect family photo’ is nonsense.
You ARE good enough right now, as you are; makeup or no makeup, whether you’re a little heavier than you’d like to be and even if you’ve not been clothes shopping or had a haircut for months.
In family life, there is no ‘perfect’. Every single family - and member of that family - is gloriously unique and that should be celebrated.
Modern and relaxed family portraits
In years past, professional family photography meant posing awkwardly in a photographer’s studio, smiling at the camera. The parents would be perched on uncomfortable chairs and the children would be sitting at the parent’s feet with unfamiliar teddy bears, everyone fidgeting in their Sunday best.
But you and I both know that is a false image of family life!
Those photos didn’t capture the spirit of the family and presented an unrealistic ideal of what it is to be part of a real family. Thank goodness that family photography has moved on so much since then!
Family photography at Kingshill Studios, Aberdeen
As an Aberdeen family photographer, I can capture a variety of modern family photos for you.
As we all know, kids don’t like being told to stand still, to pose, to smile. And it’s counter-productive to make them do things they don’t want to.
I believe that your family photoshoot should be fun. It should be about capturing your family’s unique dynamic and the individual personalities within it.
Presenting you in the best light, yes. But, creating an unrealistic vision of who you are, a definite no!
At Kingshill Studios, thanks to the fact that we have both an indoor studio and vast area of open space outside, we can create for you a variety of images when you visit us for a family photoshoot.
We usually start inside and create family portraits in the warmth of our cosy photography studio. Then, if the weather permits, we can also go outside and can even involve the family dog, if you wish.
Natural family photography
I love photographing family groups, even large groups of up to 10-12 people. And, yes, I can and do very willingly create smiling-to-camera group setups as these are the ones that families still love to hang on their walls at home.
But that’s not all we can do.
Modern family photography, for me, is about capturing the natural smiles, the meaningful glances and the non-verbal exchanges between you and your partner, and your children.
When our body language communicates so much, I believe that it’s important that you feel relaxed and comfortable during your family photo session. I’ll always encourage you to act as naturally as possible – to forget that the camera is even there.
For me, the best portraits are the ones that show you and your children with sparkling eyes, beaming naturally as you laugh together and have fun. Nothing is better than a photograph which shows a child or parent’s genuine emotion, that personal connection and love for their family.
If you’d like to book in for a family photography session, please get in touch. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Related reading:
The Kingshill Studios experience: Why choose us as your family photographer?
What to wear to your family photoshoot
Pre-Photoshoot Design Consultation At Kingshill Studios: Frequently Asked Questions
When to photograph your baby: A guide to first year milestones