10 shots you can expect in your family gallery | Charlottesville Photographer

I’ve been photographing families since 2013, and I’ve learned a lot about how to capture the beauty and authenticity of family love. My approach is simple: I capture the classic, looking-at-the-camera shots first. Then I create movement and grab moments….give prompts for little games, let the kids lead. I then photograph a mixture of intimate details and wide shots that tell a story. 

If you’ve booked a session with me, you’ll get the classic shots of course. But here are 10 other shots you can expect in your final gallery! 

1. Joyfully imperfect full family shots

“Crush in for a group hug!” is usually the prompt for this. This is usually the photo that brings the genuine smiles, and even if not every hair is in place, this is the one that is most authentic!

2. The tiny little details

Throughout the whole session I move in for unposed close ups. I love to capture little chubby hands, windblown hair, eyelashes, tiny profiles, things about their kids that parents want to bottle up forever. I understand better now, as a mom, how fleeting time is.

 I’ve started asking parents if there is something specific about each child they want to remember in this season, and try my best to capture that for them. 

3. A portrait of each child

A solo portrait of each child is a must for family sessions, and they are my favorite! It’s a great way to warm up older kids to the camera at the beginning, while I usually wait to photograph younger kids solo until later on in the session when they feel more comfortable with me. Most young kids are shy at first and need lots of encouragement but we always get at least a shot or two for the gallery! 

4. Mom & Dad together

You need to remember where it all started right? I like to get a few romantic photos of mom and dad together. Sometimes littles are running around at their feet, or climbing up trying to get in the shot, but that just makes it all the more authentic! 

5. Solo shots with kiddos

I always try to grab photos of each parent with their child, and create some fun, interactive movement between them. If there are multiple children some parents want photos with each child individually, or some want photos of all of them together (mom with kids, then dad with kids.) These photos are the sweetest! 

6. Taking a walk

How many times as parents do we walk with our kids? It’s like second nature when you have littles and I love to add walking shots in to every family gallery.

Sometimes I have the kids walk in front of mom and dad, it is always gives adorable results!

7. Sibling love

I always get a photo of all the kids together, but I’m also on the lookout for moments between siblings that are especially sweet.

I love the bond between older/younger siblings, and these beautiful photos can be posed or unposed. 

8. Hands

Kids holding a parents hand, with mom or dad’s face out of the frame, is one of my all time favorite photos to shoot. There is something I especially love about this shot when it’s a little girl holding  her dad’s big strong hand.

This photo doesn’t always happen but when it does-pure magic. 

9. Real life scenes, shot wide

This photo could be walking through a field, sitting on your front porch, having a picnic, cloud watching, whatever. But I try to involve an activity of some kind, set the pose in motion, and step back for a wide shot.

 This photo is quiet. It’s not forced.

It’s even better if it’s something that the family often does together (such as taking a canoe ride with Dad like in the above photo.) 

10. Let them play

Family photos don’t have to be stressful. When I realized that the key to taking beautiful, authentic, joyful family photos is letting the kids play, my work drastically changed for the better.

I always encourage kids to play during the session..splash in the pond, have tickle fights, pet our animals, run races around mom and dad, I have dozens of prompts up my sleeve that help kids to enjoy their session without forcing anything. 

Love this? View more family and portrait work on the blog.
Inquire about booking a family session here!

Jessica Lapp is a Charlottesville photographer serving clients all over the state of Virginia. Elegant wedding photography on film and digital, for couples who want to remember the most beautiful day of their lives in an exquisite way. Learn more about the wedding experience here!

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