I know what you are thinking Mum!
You are thinking about all the photos you have seen of yourself before.
You are thinking of your favourite photos where you look great.
You are also thinking of photos you wish had never been taken or posted.
The ones you would delete forever if you got the chance.
You are thinking, “How can I look so great in one photo and so ‘eeek’ in another!”
Don’t worry! You are not the only one thinking that. We all do.
Everyone looks at themselves first in photos. We can all get pretty self-critical of our own image. Can’t we?
Why do we do that?
Human nature I’m afraid and there is not a lot we can do about that.
Or is there?
As a family photographer who has done dozens and dozens of family photo sessions I can share 5 secrets that will make you look great in family photos.
Are you ready Mum?
Secret 1 Wear what you know you look great in.
What to wear in a family photo can be a huge dilemma for you as a Mum.
Make the wrong choice about what you wear and your family photo will never see the light of day. Right?
There are so many options running through your head about this.
So let me simplify this for you.
Do not buy something new and don’t wear something you have never worn before.
Wear something you know makes you look and feel good.
I know you have something in mind straight away.
Go with this feeling.
Is it that pair of jeans?
Whatever it is -start with that -because of the way it makes you feel.
Build the rest of what you wear around it but never lose the feeling.
You may have doubts but don’t lose your nerve here.
Be strong. Be the real you!
And here is the best bit.
Tell everyone in your family to do the same.
The kids and your partner don’t want to be dressed by you.
Would you like it if they told you what to wear? No way!
No need to match anything.
That’s the secret!
If you feel good and confident in what you are wearing you will look that way in photos.
“How did you do that? You just took us for a gentle afternoon walk on the beach…and gave us the most wonderful family photos so full of love, beauty, tenderness and happiness.” Lisa Carey, Brisbane, Australia
Secret 2 Move!
Standing still for photos can make you feel awkward, uncomfortable and nervous.
If it’s a family photo session with a real photographer, well this makes you, and everyone else in the family, even more nervous…
..and of course that’s how you will look in your photos.
We don’t want that. So let’s get moving!
We were made to move.
It’s a great sight to see a family move together, like a herd, across the landscape.
Seriously though, when a family starts walking together the ‘awkwardness’ very quickly just disappears.
You and your family are now doing something instead of just standing there.
The kids start to laugh and joke around. You and the family start to look natural together in motion and this makes for great natural family photos.
Of course, if you are outdoors somewhere like a beach or a park it’s easy to just go for a walk and let your photographer keep in front of you to get all the action.
It’s great in the late afternoon when the light is perfect.
It’s a great time of day for a walk and also for photos.
So mum, keep moving with the family because you will have more fun and look natural together.
What’s next?
Secret 3 Connect with your family.
I have seen family photos where I look at the kids and the parents and think;
“It looks like these people don’t even know each other.
How can they be a family?”
They are a family, of course, but they are so nervous in front of the camera that they stop doing everything they would normally do together.
So, talk to each other. Look at each other. Laugh with each other.
Touch and hug, hold hands and chase each other around.
Be playful with each other and even push and shove each other around because that’s what families normally do. Don’t they?
Showing your togetherness as a family through touch and connection makes you and your family look natural and beautiful in photos.
Got that. That’s not too difficult you say.
Secret 4 Don’t worry! Be happy!
Sound easy Mum? Not always.
I know that it can be a big effort for you to get family photos done.
Let’s face it! Who else in the family is really going to do all the work that needs to be done to make family photos happen?
You need to find the right photographer. You need to find the right time and day when everyone can be together.
You need to deal with difficult children, reluctant husbands, unpredictable weather, postponements.
And, of course, on the day of the photo session itself you might seem to be fighting a world of anger, frustration and anxiety to make your photo session happen.
And all of those emotions can end up showing in your face in the photos.
Yes, I’ve seen photos where everyone looks great except Mum because of this.
Oh the injustice!
So, Mum, you must put all this aside and ‘enter the arena’ free of worries and ready to be happy and have fun with your family.
Let it all go. Don’t worry about anything. Be happy!
Can you do that?
Because if you can you will be rewarded with beautiful pics of you with your family.
“Best advice EVER! You told us to just have fun and be silly together as a couple and not to worry about the kids’ behaviour. We look so happy in the photos -we look like a couple of teenagers in love ourselves! I laugh and feel wonderful every time I look at these pics.” Corey and Owen Lewis, Coff’s Harbour
Secret 5 Forget about the photographer (me).
Finally, we are at our last secret.
Wouldn’t that be great if you could just forget about the photographer and be totally relaxed and enjoy yourself having fun on an afternoon walk with your family.
Because that’s when things really do get beautiful.
If you can move, be together and be happy and have fun with your family AND forget there is someone taking photos, then a good photographer can make you the most wonderful, tender, candid photos of you and the people you love and care about the most.
Pictures that you will make you smile, laugh and feel good inside every time you look at them.
Pictures that really say “We love each other. We are family!”
“Trying to get us all together seemed impossible… until it was almost too late. But you told us we could still ‘make it happen’.
“Then, it was like magic! You came to us, took our photos and that same evening, after dinner, we were all still together, laughing and looking at ourselves in the most fantastic family photos and sharing them with family on the other side of the world. Jeff was absolutely amazed at how good we all looked and keeps asking – “How did he do that?”
Kerrie Honsa, Narangba
So there you have it Mum! The 5 secrets to looking beautiful in family photos.
..and it’s nothing to do with your age, your hair, your make up or your waistline. I bet you are happy to hear that!
A loving Mum, surrounded by her family who love her back just as much.
Now that’s beautiful!
Let’s get a picture of that.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and you now feel good about knowing more about what makes you look beautiful in a great family photo.
Now you just have to find the right photographer for your family.
Here’s what I strongly recommend you do TODAY!
Call me on 0449 660 473 to talk to me more about family photos. I like to talk to people.
Please don’t wait on this! The call is free and we can chat about your family and you will find out more about me and my family photo sessions.
“The candid photos are gorgeous – the ones where we were having so much fun we didn’t even know you were still taking photos. Such happiness! They are our favourites!” Peta Eriksson, Sandgate
Then, if you would like to, we can set up a time to get together in person so you’ll be in a better position to decide who the right photographer is for you and your family.
Sincerely,
Paul Neil
Paul Neil Photography
Sandgate, Brisbane
“Paul, you make us feel like you love photographing our growing family and that is why Michael and I come back to you year after year.”
Renee Trudell, Dakabin
Read more from my happy families here:
