How to Prep for Fall Family Photos In Jacksonville

You know you want family photos for your holiday cards this year, but you’re totally stressed about the idea of it and not sure where to start.  Stop stressing mama (yeah right) and keep reading.

 How_to_prep_for_fall_family_photos_Jacksonville_FL

Where will your photos go?  

It’s good to know what your plans are for your photos.  Knowing this will help you in all aspects of preparing for your session.

Four 16x20FB

  • Will you display your images in that “fancy” room? Or will they go above the headboard in your beachy master bedroom?

  • Do you want high-resolution digital negatives that you can print yourself? Or maybe you just need a few low rez. files to put on social media?

  • Will Grandma be happy with a holiday card? Or does she NEED a framed 8×10 print?

  • Do you want a custom designed album? Or the ability to make your own photo book?

 

Selecting a photographer

There is no shortage of photographers in Jacksonville. You can find them through Google searches, on social media sites, in advertisements, and through friends. With so many options, how do you know which photographer is right for you? Consider this:

  • What products do they sell? – Make sure to let your photographer know what you want to do with your photos so that you can make sure they are able meet your needs with the products and types of files they offer.

  • Prices & Budget –  Every family’s budget for photography is different.  With so many photographers in our area, you will find a broad range of pricing and services being offered. There is sure to be someone to meet your budgetary needs. I recommend thinking about a good family photography experience as a true investment. Look for the best photographer that you can afford.

  • Your Style & Their Style – Look at your photographer’s past work and determined if their style matches what you are looking for.  For example:  Do you like posed or “unposed” images?  Would you like a highly stylized look with lots of props?  A lifestyle session? Or a simple studio session?  What kind of editing do you like… clean and classic or edgy and trendy?  Whatever is it that you want to your images to look like, make sure that are not asking for something that is vastly different from what your photographer already does.

  • Portfolio Consistency – When looking at a photographer’s portfolio do you see consistency throughout their work?  Does the editing style seem consistent? Do you like most of what you see?

{Check out JMB’s Favorite Photographers Here!}

What to wear?

This is the number one, most commonly asked about and stressed about question.  Here are my tips:

Family_outfits

  • Dressy vs. Casual –  I suggest wearing clothes that represent the best version of who you are as a family.  Maybe you have a formal home and love to dress up.  Or perhaps you and your home have a very laid back style.  Let your clothes for your session match that your taste.

  • Mommy first – 99% of the time I suggest that mom should select her outfit first.  It should be something she loves and feels beautiful in.  If mama does like herself in the pictures, it doesn’t matter how great everyone else looks!

  • Pattern second – If mom’s outfit doesn’t have a pattern, selecting a patterned piece next will help you finalize the color scheme and will lead the way for selecting the other garments.

  • Avoid “matchy-matchy”– I haven’t met a family yet that goes around dressing exactly alike every day.  Everyone’s personalities in the family are unique, let the differences shine through!

  • Embrace the warm Jacksonville weather – I love the look of jackets, and layers, and boots! But it’s still warm in the fall here.  If you want to avoid kids (and husbands) screaming “MOM I’M HOT,”  dress them for Jacksonville’s weather, not Maine’s!

 

Where to Shoot

Choose a location that matches your family’s style and interests.  Here are some ideas:

  • The Beach – You’ll want a session early in the morning or late in the afternoon.  Go to lesser populated beaches.  Don’t be surprised by the wind.

  • Urban – Do you like colorful walls, cityscapes, and funky urban architecture?  Just know that this may not give you the opportunity to set the kids free.  Some examples:

    • Atlantic beach, like Liz’s Session

    • Downtowns of Jacksonville, St Augustine, or Fernandina

    • Friendship fountain

  • Nature Parks – Great if you’re an outdoorsy family and you know you’ll want to set the kids free.  Some examples:

  • Others

    • Your home

    • A studio

    • Fall leaves – forget it.  Go north!  (Or wait till very late in the fall)

 

Other Tips

  • Schedule Early

  • Arrive Early

  • Bring Snacks – Look for snacks and drinks for the kids that won’t show up on teeth.

  • Low pressure – I know you’re stressed about your session mom, but don’t let the kids know… that will only make things worse.

  • Clothes in the car – If there’s a chance the kid’s clothes could get messed up on the way, just bring them in the car and change when you get there

  • Bring wet wipes – no explanation needed, right?

 

Good luck!  You can do this mom!

Megan Johns
Megan grew up in rural central Florida building forts and feeding cows with her 3 younger sisters. Her youth led Megan to believe in the amazing power of female ingenuity and to put a high value on positive and supportive interaction among ladies and girls. As a graduate of the University of Florida Mechanical Engineering program, Megan moved to Jacksonville to pursue a career with a bio-medical device company and to begin a wonderful life with her amazing husband Patrick. During her years working as an engineer, Megan developed an interest in photography. When she put her career on hold to take on the hardest job a person could love (Mommy to Evan 5 and Lilla 3), she discovered her love of "life" style photography as seen at Megan Johns Photography. Megan carries her camera everywhere and sometimes refers to it as her "third child!"

1 COMMENT

  1. Megan, This list is great! My favorite part is your comment about dressing for Florida… not Maine. 🙂 Made me laugh! This is something I tell my clients a lot!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here