Make Your Family Session Extra Special

Everyone needs the photos where you're all posed and smiling at the camera but let's be honest, that doesn't really represent your family. Sure, it is you, but unless you spend you days doing that, it doesn't capture your essence as a family. Candids are where it's at and natural interaction gets you the photos you'll cherish for a lifetime but how do you get those kinds of photos?

I did an in-home one-year session and the mom requested that we do some photos at the piano because Dad and Baby would play piano together. That had Older Sisters wanting to play too so we let them and I shot a few photos because it was so sweet :) Maybe you don't play piano with your kids but what are things you do as a family? Can you do it, even in part, during a family session to make your photos truly unique to you? Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

1. Coloring/Doing A Craft - This would be especially great for littler kids but any age family could enjoy it. You can each work on a project, do something as a group, or have a parent and kid team up! 
   
2. Play A Game - Does your family love playing games together? Do you have a favorite game? Pull it out and start playing! 
   
3. Read A Story - Again, this one might be more geared towards younger children but not only is this building the bonds of your family, it also looks very sweet in photos :)
   
4. Bake/Cook Together - This idea is especially great for Christmas photos! 
   

Think of what makes your family unique. What do you love to do together? What bonds you? When people think of your family, what do they point to as being your "thing"? Those are the things you want to incorporate into your family session. It's going to get the most genuine smiles, elicit laughter, and it turns your photo session into a family bonding moment, rather than just "getting photos taken". 

Don't worry. We won't spend the whole time doing this and we'll still get those posed, looking-at-the-camera photos that you do need. However, I'm guessing that the photos you love when you look at your final gallery will be the ones that were a moment of interaction between you and your loved ones. 

I'd love to know, what would you pick for your family to do if you worked something into your next family session?