Mommy and me photo shoots are a fun and popular way to capture a special time in life, regardless of the child or children's ages. And with great cameras on phones these days and user friendly digital editing to boot, taking great photos yourself, of your family, has never been easier. That said, in addition to composition and lighting, choosing the location for your photo shoot is a make it or break it kind of thing! In this article you'll learn about some simple ideas to make your family photo shoot an amazing success, so that you can then enjoy the results in a variety of photobooks for yourself and loved ones. And of course, there is no time like the present when it comes to capturing those kids that seem to change overnight, so lets dive in so that you'll be ready to create some fantastic memories.
Take Photos at the Beach
One of the best places to enjoy a photo shoot is at the beach. The sea, sun, and sand can help to create a wonderful photo. Consider hugging your little one with the sand and sea in the background, or holding them up for a silhouette photo at sunset. Or why not lay on the beach side by side, stand holding hands as the water rushes around your ankles or build sand castles! Bring props like sand toys, fun beach towels, sunglasses and sun hats. A large red beach umbrella could also be a great prop. And thinking ahead to creating the perfect photos that will be wonderful for DIY photobooks that you can make from online suppliers, photos of the ocean and the beach can make a wonderful cover or title page placed behind your graphics!
Hug in a Field
Hugging your child in a field of golden stalks looks very nice in photographs. You could also chase each other in the field or pretend to be hiding. Not every field has the same crop growing, so you’ll need to make sure you find a crop that you’d be happy to have in a photograph. Don’t forget, you may also need to ask permission from the farmer before you step onto the field, or find a field of grass in a public park. Props for photos taken on a farm field would be farm tools, a bucket or basket, bandanas, and straw sun hats. Toy tractors or farm equipment could also be perfect!
Use a Lot of Pastels
One of the latest trends in the world of photo shoots is to use a lot of pastel colors. Whether you’re at home or in a studio, pastel-colored fabrics help add a soft touch to the photographs. Just make sure that the clothes you’re wearing are neutral, or very dark, such as black or dark blue, in order to work with the pastel theme.
Drape pastel-colored fabric over furniture and hang it from the walls. You may even want to consider playing with pastel-colored sheets and wrapping the sheets around each other. This can look really good in photographs. Or how about pastel pillow cases, and pastel pajamas for everyone?
Use Toys as Props
One of the best ways for you to encourage your little one to cooperate during a photo shoot is to use toys. Children love to play and they can look very natural in the photographs if they are playing. Use as many different toys as you can so that your child does not become bored. You may have to over-exaggerate the play while you’re being photographed. However, it can be a lot of fun.
Lipstick and a Mirror
You may want to consider using lipstick and a mirror to help set the scene. Ask someone to take a photo of you while you’re applying lipstick and ask your little one to do the same. Chances are you’ll both end up laughing as you try to apply the lipstick. You might even want to put lipstick on each other.
Enjoy a Picnic
Sometimes there is nothing nicer than a picnic. Why not pack a picnic and dress up in some of your finest summer clothes? Take some fruit, yogurt, and fruit juice with you so that the whole photo has a summer-vibe to it. Enjoy a picnic in one of your favorite spots at your local park, at the beach, or anywhere you please.
Have fun on the picnic and get ready to enjoy having your photograph taken. If you want to add a bit of fun to the photographs, pretend to have a food fight. Squashing some raspberries or strawberries on your face is likely to be very amusing to your little one. An amused child can look great in a photograph.
Wear A Fancy Costume Dress Or Matching Clothing
Sometimes children love nothing more than to dress up. Why not join in and dress in something similar to your little one’s favorite costume? You could even have almost identical costumes, should you wish to. If you prefer something a little more formal, dress in clothing with a similar style and color, and don't forget to match the shoes as well!
Consider taking more than one costume or set of clothing with you to change into. Sometimes the mere act of changing into a costume can be a lot of fun. Once the costumes are on, pretend you’re a princess, a knight, a famous wizard, or anything in between. Fancy dress can be a lot of fun, so why not dress up and enjoy yourself?
There are so many wonderful things that you can do as part of your photo shoot. Why not consider some or all of the above options and enjoy capturing special moments with your little ones or not-so-little ones? Not only will you be creating great memories, but also have the photos to proove it!