As a family photographer, there’s no greater honor than capturing portraits for our fellow family photogs. We had the pleasure of spending yesterday evening with the incredibly talented Saren of Saren Cassotto Photography and her gorgeous family. Since she’s visiting from out of town, we chose to photograph at Gantry Park in LIC. This location offers modern boardwalks, lovely benches, and epic views of the Manhattan skyline. The perfect settings to capture some special NYC inspired memories with the children. Besides the classic family photoshoot, we always capture a few couples portraits as well. A nice little reminder of where the magic all began. 🙂
Saren totally made our day with her sweet words below. An awesome reminder of why we do what we do. Couldn’t have said it better ourselves!!
“These images… They will be with my children for years and years to come- long past my FB shares are posted. Long after they let me hold them on our laps like they did in these images…. and they will have these to remember just how truly cherished and loved they always were.”
Are you thinking about capturing family portraits in New York City? This might be the very first time you all step in front of the camera together, how exciting! Or, maybe it’s been a bit since your last session and you need to refresh your photos. Either way, we made this guide to help you create beautiful photos. We’ll discuss everything from selecting outfits to the best times for your session. We’ll also go over how to prepare your kids for a fun photography experience. Keep reading for more!
Outfit Choices for Family Portraits
Have you been searching your way through family photographers online? Maybe you saw photos of perfectly dressed Moms, Dads, and babies. The put-together families who make you wonder whether or not they are models. Some families just seem to have natural style. And you’re not quite sure how to pull it off. It can be difficult to find outfits for everyone. Especially ones that create a beautiful photography experience. We have a few tips to help you find & select outfits for your photoshoot.
First, decide on a color palette. A complimentary color palette. Will it be warm neutrals? Shades of cream & white? What about earthy tones like sage, burnt orange, and warm yellows? Everyone does not have to wear the same color. In fact, we would tell you to avoid it at all costs! Complementary colors will give your photos more life.
With your color palette picked out, now it’s time to shop! When did you last shop for yourself first? For your photoshoot, we encourage you to find an outfit for yourself first. Yes, before the kids. It’s so easy to find cute kid’s clothes. Pretty sparkly dresses & button-down shirts are just so adorable in toddler sizes, aren’t they?
We want you to look and feel your best for this photoshoot. You’ll want to show up looking confident! And not just you, but the whole family. We know all too well that it’s more of a process for Moms & Dads to find something they enjoy wearing. Find your outfit first. From there, it will be easier to find complimentary outfits for your partner and the kids.
Wardrobe Items to Avoid for Your Photoshoot
You now have an idea of how to choose a color palette. You also understand why you should shop for yourself first. Next, let’s talk about what to avoid. There are a few things, actually. First, avoid outfits that will take away from your beautiful photos. What do we mean by this? Any clothing with prints, patterns, or logos. Here’s a specific example. If you are eyeing a dress with a pastel floral print, that’s a great choice. However, if you like a dress with hot pink & lime green florals, we would tell you to avoid it.
Another thing to remember is to stay true to your own sense of style. Your style doesn’t need to change just because you are scheduling a photoshoot. If you are more comfortable in shorts versus pants, then stick with that. If you feel like you could never wear heels and a dress, then avoid those too! The outfits you choose for your family photos should be an enhancement of your everyday style. Not a complete overhaul of your everyday style.
Prepping your Kids for the Big Day
You might have concerns about professional photography because your child is always “on the go”. Or, you want to schedule a session that won’t interrupt your baby’s nap, or your toddler’s snack. We understand how important it is to keep a daily routine. We also understand that kids enjoy playing more than sitting still for the ‘perfect’ family photo.
Yet the perfect photograph is the one that best represents your family. Do you enjoy picnics in the park? Or blowing bubbles? Then why try to create a formal photography experience? When we work with our little clients, play & fun are a requirement! So what can you do to prepare the kids for this fun photo shoot?
Trust Your Photographer
You have to put your trust in your photographer. That means not prompting the kids with directions like “Say cheese”. We understand this family portrait session is important to you. You scheduled it because you want to commemorate this very moment. You want to look back and remember when “the kids were that small”. With parenthood, the days are long, but the years are short. Little ones grow so fast! Though you might feel like prompting them to “listen”, it’s important to leave it up to your photographer.
We know that children don’t sit perfectly still. And we don’t expect them to! Little kids are so eager to explore the world around them. Isn’t it beautiful? We want your photography experience to be fun for them, and a memorable experience for you. The best way to prepare the kids is by scheduling your session at a time that works for them. Usually, once they’ve napped and eaten. If you need to pack additional “just in case” snacks to bring along, that’s ok too.
Our Approach To Successful NYC Family Photos
We always tell Moms & Dads to treat the photshoot as a playdate. Pack what you need, and let the kids know you are off on a fun adventure. Don’t create unnecessary anxiety. As far as they’re concerned, they’re going on a playdate! One where they are free to move around & explore with curiosity. Kids will always stop to smell the flowers or tug at the grass. They also like to run around in circles and laugh until their cheeks hurt. Can you imagine what those photos will look like? Beautiful and genuine!
Don’t forget, this a fun playdate for the kids. As such, avoid promises & bribing. We know this can be a go-to when parents want to get things back on track. Take it from us – it’s not necessary. We want you to explore. With this approach, there will be plenty of tender moments to share. Moments that become photos to look back on for a lifetime.
Where to take Stunning Photos of your Family
There are so many locations in New York City that provide stunning backdrops for family photography. However, you might wonder which one would work best. Is this your first time in front of a professional camera? Perhaps it’s the first professional photos since your new baby arrived. Either way, choosing a location never gets any easier.
The most important thing to remember when picking a location is to find a space that embodies your family. More importantly, find a location that feels like the current season of life you are experiencing. If you have a couple of adventurous kids then a location like a museum probably isn’t the best choice. You need a space that matches the energy of your junior crew. Additionally, you’ll need a space where your children want to explore & play during your session. Some of our favorite locations are Central Park, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and The High Line Park in Chelsea. However, if you’re not sure of these locations, we can always make a personalized recommendation.
Best Time of Day for your Photo Session
While we would love to give you one specific hour that works best, it really all depends. As we previously mentioned, you may need to schedule your family portraits around nap time or your child’s schedule. In that case, you may already have the answer.
However, if your children are past the nap & bottle stage, you may have a bit more flexibility in your schedule. If that’s the case, we recommend scheduling at a time that provides the best light. In photography, we call this “the golden hour”. After capturing family portraits for nearly two decades, we have all the info on golden hour. Golden hour – the 1-hour preceding sunset – creates surreal warmth in your photos. This draws out emotions, personality, and character. The light is best at two distinct times of the day, sunrise, and sunset. Sunrise and sunset vary from season to season. Here is a guide with times for each season.
Winter
Sunrise | 7:00 am
Sunset | 4:30 pm
Spring
Sunrise | 6:00 am
Sunset | 7:00 pm
Summer
Sunrise | 5:30 am
Sunset | 8:20 pm
Fall
Sunrise | 7:20 am
Sunset | 6:20 pm
Flattering Poses for your Family Portraits
We’ve talked all about selecting attire. We also went over choosing a timeframe that works best for your kids. Nevertheless, posing in front of the actual camera has probably crossed your mind. How should you stand? Or sit? What about holding & interacting with the kids?
We have two main goals when working with our NYC clients. The first is to keep it playful and fun. After all, this is a moment for you to cherish. One that goes beyond the gorgeous photos you’ll receive. You are also creating a memorable experience, one that will set the tone for your next session. Knowing that we want to keep things fun and playful, our second objective is to work on a visual narrative. In order to do this, we’ll be moving around from spot to spot.
It’s not a Photoshoot, it’s a Playdate!
While you are having a blast playing with the kids, we’ll be behind the camera working our magic. A thorough photography experience is one that gives you a selection of shots. Photos to hang in your home or display in a beautiful album. And of course, a stunning wallpaper image for your phone. To that end, we like to capture wide-angle, landscape style portraits. This style of framing helps to establish the environment. From there, we’ll move on to full-body portraits. Ultimately, we’ll finish with close-ups to capture those tiny but cherished details.
You might be saying, ok, “but I don’t know how to stand/sit/smile”. Well, it’s not about “being on” and posing. It’s about being in your natural state so we can draw on the deep connection and bond you all share. But we’ll say this! When you are in front of the camera, you may suddenly find yourself feeling very aware. If that’s the case, we give you some tips on how to move. In a way that creates photos that are timeless, yet engaging.
Wrapping Things Up
We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to creating beautiful family photos. At Michael Kormos Photography, we specialize in award-winning family photography in New York City. Our work showcases the love & personality of your family set amidst the iconic NYC backdrops. Our boutique photography studio is conveniently located in Midtown, Manhattan. We work with families in locations throughout New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut metro area. We understand how to capture the imaginative personality of children, while they are in that sweet spot of life. To learn more about scheduling your family photography, you can reach out to us here.