I’ve been photographing families for years- from as few as 2 (or often 2, plus one on the way!), all the way up to groups in the double-digits, and there’s a few things I’ve learned over the years about what makes a family portrait memorable and timeless.
1. Toss the ‘Sunday Best!’ It seems to be every parent’s inclination to dress everyone up in their ‘Sunday best’ for their family portrait. My parents did it. Your parents probably did it. YOU may have
 even done it a time or two! Here’s my advice: don’t! Especially if you have young kids. Seriously, the thing that makes family portraits ‘timeless’ is the interactions and fun between everyone in the family, and nothing makes the interactions look (and feel) more natural than everyone feeling relaxed during the portrait session…
Dad may be used to wearing a tie (or not!) but what kid is going to find their ‘Sunday best’ to be exactly what they need in order to relax and be themselves?Consider dressing everyone about ‘one step up’ from their everyday clothing, making sure all the kiddos have their hair more-or-less brushed, and then call it good. Making every effort to make picture day fun and relaxing = something that everyone will look back on as a fun family experience, and will make the images that much more treasured. Making picture day something that everyone dreads by making it a chore and burden for everyone (including yourself!) = everyone resistant to getting portraits done in the future, and bad memories associated with the pictures you take.
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 Jay Lance Photography Wedding Podcast “So what exactly is photojournalistic wedding photography, and how does it differ from ‘traditional’ wedding photography?”
This is a great question that I got on the website this week and so I decided to devote today’s podcast to the topic of photojournalistic wedding photography. Is wedding photojournalism just another marketing tactic to get you to part with more money? Is it possible to hire a wedding photographer who works in the photojournalistic style and still get them to do some formal family pictures too? No really, what is the difference between traditional wedding photography and wedding photography done in the photojournalistic style? The answers to these questions and more are in this week’s podcast! As always, let me know what you think by leaving a message in the comments below, by sending me a message, or by giving me a call.
Wedding Photography Podcast #3: “What Exactly IS Photojournalistic Wedding Photography, Anyway?”
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Jeff Lanctot is the owner of Jay Lance Photography, a full-service wedding and portrait photography studio located in Spokane, Washington, and serving the greater Inland Northwest. Jeff has over 20 years of photography experience, is a member of PPA, WPPI, INPRO, and thinks that being invited to tell the story of someone’s wedding day is one of the great privileges of being a photographer…
I’m without words. This is… Just. Awesome. Photographer Amanda Rynda writes:
“When Juliana & Ben got engaged, Juliana emailed me about shooting their engagement session. She wrote, ”We want to survive a zombie attack and then hug because we’re in love!” They wanted to put their personalities into it, and do something a little quirky. Quirky is right up my alley so I knew we’d have a great time pulling this idea together.”
You can check out more of the images from this amazing engagement session here: http://www.amandarynda.com/2011/08/zombie-engagement-photos/
Want to do something really unusual with your engagement (or portrait) photos? Give me a call… We’ll hook it up!
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Jeff Lanctot is the owner of Jay Lance Photography, a full-service wedding and portrait photography studio located in Spokane, Washington, and serving the greater Inland Northwest. Jeff has over 20 years of photography experience, is a member of PPA, WPPI, INPRO, and thinks more engaged couples should prepare for zombie attacks… Because you just never know.
 I shot a wedding at a venue recently that had a beautiful sweeping manicured lawn, an amazing white gazebo for the altar, wonderful vintage-looking white wood chairs for guests to sit in, and plenty of beautiful plants around the property… A dream location, right?
Sure, until we got to see inside the dressing rooms. Small, cramped, low ceiling, small windows, brown 1970′s faux-wood paneling everywhere, tacky curtains, no chairs or mirrors anywhere. Yikes!
The bride had her heart set on getting lots of amazing ‘getting ready’ pictures (bridesmaids lacing up her dress, mother helping put the necklace her grandmother wore at her own wedding, bridesmaids getting make-up and hair done, etc.) and I had to tell her that in my opinion using the dressing area for many of the pictures she had in mind wouldn’t produce the kinds of images she was hoping for.
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As any professional photographer or parent will readily tell you, it can be tricky to take pictures of kids that don’t look awkward or forced. Photographer Rebecca Dawe puts it this way:
“When you try to direct children to pose, they tend to assume bizarre, twisted positions or do things that they never normally would… They say never work with children or animals, but we think it’s all in the approach and the method rather than trying to direct a little bundle of energy to do what you want: “Stand there!” “Don’t make a face!” “Hug your sister!” If there’s one thing you can rely on, giving a small child a direct command is likely to result in the complete opposite!”
So what are some techniques that you can use to get professional results? Whether you’re taking photographs of your own kids, or are actually a professional working to create beautiful images of children for your clients, here are Rebecca’s top 10 tips for photographing children:
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/top-10-children-photography-tips/
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Jeff Lanctot is the owner of Jay Lance Photography, a full-service wedding and portrait photography studio located in Spokane, Washington, and serving the greater Inland Northwest. Jeff has over 20 years of photography experience, is a member of PPA, WPPI, INPRO, and loves to recommend articles from other authors when they say things better than he could have!
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Can’t wait to meet you and yours and take some amazing portraits for you guys…
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