With a well-structured and flexible process, your family shoot will be a relaxed and enjoyable experience. From the arrival at the location to the finished family photos, I will introduce you to the process so that you know what to expect
In addition to the photographic documentation, a family photo shoot is a shared experience that creates memories together and focuses on your family. Many families ask themselves before their family photo shoot what exactly the shoot will be like and what to expect.
In this article, I’ll take you through the entire process of a family shoot. You’ll find out how we take time to arrive, how I take photos, which family constellations we capture and how we respond flexibly to the children’s needs. With this knowledge, you can go into your shoot relaxed and look forward to natural and authentic family photos. You can find all the information you need to prepare for the shoot in the article“Preparing for your family photo shoot“.
Here you will find a brief summary of the main content of the article:
- Depending on your wishes, we photograph outdoors in nature, indoors at your home or in a daylight studio. At the beginning, we take time to arrive, clarify any final questions and get to know the location.
- There are no posed shots during the shoot. Instead, you move around, play with each other and enjoy your time together. We photograph different family constellations: the whole family, the parents with children, the couple, sibling pictures, individual portraits and, if desired, generational photos with the grandparents.
- The family shoot usually takes one to two hours, depending on the size of the family and the age of the children. We take breaks when necessary: for snacks, to catch our breath or when a child needs a break. The best family photos are taken when everyone is relaxed and under no time pressure.
- After the shoot, I select the best pictures, edit them professionally and make them available to you in an online gallery.
- Executive Summary: Authentic family photos in a relaxed atmosphere
- The start: arriving and warming up in the family shoot
- Natural instead of posed: How to create authentic family photos
- We photograph these motifs in the family shoot
- Sufficient breaks and lots of flexibility in the shoot
- After the family photo shoot: what happens next
- Family photo shoots: frequently asked questions about the process
- Take a look at my offer for family shoots
- Take a look at other articles on family photography
When we meet at the shooting location, we first take a moment to arrive. The relaxed start is very important, especially for children, to get to know the surroundings and me as a family photographer before we really get going.
We say hello and talk about how you feel. Then we’ll take a look at the location for our shoot together and clarify your open questions and special requests. Which places in the location do you particularly like? Are there certain family constellations or motifs that are particularly important to you? We will discuss these details again before the family shoot to ensure that the shoot goes exactly according to your wishes.
My photographic approach is perhaps a little different from what you know from classic photo shoots in the studio. With me, there are no stiff, posed poses. I don’t say: “Everyone smile at the camera and hold still!” or ask everyone to look good.
Instead, we go for a walk and explore the surroundings. I give you suggestions like “Show daddy how high you can jump!” or “Run towards each other!”. You just do what feels good and appropriate: cuddling, laughing, fooling around or talking to each other. The children can play, run, collect leaves, climb or do whatever else they enjoy.
I observe the situations and capture the real, beautiful moments photographically for you. The most important thing is that we don’t put ourselves under time pressure. The best family photos are taken when everyone is relaxed and enjoying their time together.
During the shoot, we move around the location. I often start with pictures of the whole family so that we all start the shoot well together. Then I gradually photograph the different constellations, always in a natural flow and depending on what fits and what comes up. There is no rigid schedule, instead I use the moments that arise and capture them.
The variety of motifs in the family photo shoot is important to me in order to give you a nice selection of perspectives and pictures to choose from. Of course, I photograph the whole family together, but I also make sure to photograph you in different constellations.
The whole family together: We take pictures of the whole family in different situations: playing, laughing and cuddling. I take family photos where everyone is looking at the camera as well as natural, candid moments.
Parents with children: I photograph mom with all the children, then dad with all the children. These pictures are very important to many customers. They show the special relationship between parents and children and are wonderful memories of this time.
Focus on the parents: Parents often forget each other a little in everyday family life. You parents as a couple are important and naturally belong in the family photos. These photos remind you that you are not just parents, but also lovers.
Sibling pictures: The siblings are together, even in different constellations if there are several siblings. These family pictures are often particularly emotional and valuable memories.
Individual portraits: Each family member is the focus of the shoot for a moment and is photographed individually. These shots clearly show the personality of each individual, be it a dreamy look, a mischievous smile or concentrated play.
Intergenerational photos with the grandparents: When the grandparents are present, wonderful generational pictures are created. Photos of grandma and grandpa with their grandchildren are also priceless and become precious family memories.
The variety of family constellations makes your picture selection rich and gives you the opportunity to choose your personal and emotional favorites later on.
The best family photos are not taken under time pressure and on a conveyor belt, but when everyone is relaxed and in a good mood. That’s why breaks, patience and flexibility are an important part of family photography. We take regular short breaks and additional breaks depending on the situation, if they are necessary.
When a child gets tired, when snacks or drinks need to be consumed, to change outfits or simply to take a deep breath, we take a break without stress. These little breaks help enormously to maintain a good mood and recharge our batteries. Breaks are particularly important for young children. They have a shorter attention span and need a moment in between to collect themselves. A quick snack, a sip of water or a few minutes to play can work wonders and lift their spirits.
When we are outdoors, we also use breaks for short discovery tours. The children can collect stones, find sticks or simply explore the surroundings. This free time helps them to feel comfortable and motivated to join in again later.
Sometimes not everything goes according to plan, and that is completely normal. If a child cries or doesn’t want to join in, we take a break. The most important thing is that I stay calm and relaxed, and you can be too. Every family photo shoot has resulted in beautiful pictures, even if a child didn’t feel like it or cried in between. Please don’t put yourselves or your children under pressure. There is no such thing as a perfect family photo. Small moments of imperfection make your family authentic and the pictures come alive.
After the shoot, I sort through all the photos and select the best family photos for you. I make sure that the selection is varied and that all family members are well represented. I look for sharpness, composition, expression and emotion. I sort out duplicate or very similar pictures so that you get a clear and concise selection.
I edit every single photo professionally. I also apply my characteristic image look, which makes your photos harmonious and coherent. When editing, it is important to me that the naturalness of the images is retained. I edit so that the photos look professional and high quality, but not artificial or exaggerated.
I will then make your online gallery available to you. The gallery is password-protected and only accessible to you. There you can browse through the images at your leisure, select your personal favorites, choose your image package and download your images in high resolution.
