There are a few items to consider when choosing a backdrop for your family photos, in order to have the most enjoyable experience. The first piece of advice I can give you in selecting your location is, share your vision with your photographer. Most likely, your photographer will have a few locations where they love to photograph, and can offer a few locations for your family photos. As a photographer I have a lot of family photography locations in Maryland where I have photographed. However, I always want to take into consideration what is best for my clients. I love it when a client comes to me with a vision. I don’t mean to say they give me a complete Pinterest list of all the photos they would like. Instead they give me an inspiration board of sorts. Now, if you live in the desert, you may be hard pressed to have beach photos, so obviously, you need to keep in mind your own geographical restrictions, unless you are up for a road trip. But these are your photos, and if you have a vision share it with your photographer. More than likely, they will love to stretch their creativity by photographing in a new location.
When my twins were two years old, I forgot that if Jack saw water, he was going to go in the water. It didn’t matter if it was July or January. The boy made a beeline straight for the waves. Luckily, we live on the bay, so our waves are calm. I knew we were going to end up in the water, but I didn’t realize all our photos were going to be in the Chesapeake Bay. I will say, I love the session and photos. The beach is a wonderful location for family photography. I love kids getting dirty and playing. I don’t mind the mud, and am happy to enjoying the moments. But this is a reminder to those of you with young children. Let’s talk safety and stress.
Choose a location, where you are comfortable with your children and the environment. If you live by the ocean, near the mountains, near farm animals, near mud, really, all the epic locations, then chances are you will have to make sure your kids don’t get into things you aren’t comfortable with. If I took photos of a two year old at the ocean, mom and dad would may need to be on goalie duty to make sure their kiddo doesn’t make a run for the breakers. If this would stress you out, then choose a location where you can relax a little more. Perhaps photograph near the sand dunes instead, saving the water photos for last.
Distance. Once again, little kiddos can put a wrench in your epic photo plans. So my advice is know your kids. If your little ones will sleep on the way to the location, and be cranky when they wake up, then try to give a buffer time of when you arrive and when you start your session. No on wants to go from a dead sleep straight into smiles and sunshine. If you traveled a bit to your family photography location, arrive a little early. Make sure you have time to decompress stretch their legs. I know you don’t want their outfit to get dirty before photos start. If you foresee that, then bring the outfit you want them to wear, and once you arrive and they play a little while, change them. The one thing you do want to be careful of is not getting them to lose their interest. So in one breath I saw let them play, but in the other breath I want to tell you, don’t let them play at the location your photographer wants to take pictures. If your at the beach, let them stretch their legs and run around in the grass. Leave the excitement and wonder for the photos. The photo above is taken near Assateague State Park. You may even get lucky and have wild horses in your photos.