What to do with the Kids at a Photoshoot

What to do with the kids at a photoshoot: 

Most of the time wrangling your little one before a photoshoot becomes a crazy, tiresome adventure that ends in mom or dad becoming exhausted before the pictures even start. So if it is a family photography session or individual photographs of your children, we want you to know that we understand and we have a few tips that might help. 

• Let the children be, well... Children: Try not to coach your child. Many times children see photographers as strangers with odd boxes looking at them. They clam up and get shy, or cranky, or even act out. As photographers we want parents to know that this is completely ok. In fact we enjoy when children can express themselves and be as natural as if they were at home. 
• The key word is FUN: Kids just wanna have fun. They will move a ton because they want to explore, play, and experience this odd day out with mom and dad. This is completely ok! 
• Timing is key: Young children get cranky when they get tired. We recommend scheduling your session early in the day before they wear themselves out or after a nap that way they are refreshed for the adventure ahead. (That is unless we are photographing sleeping infants, then I suggest a time when the child usually sleeps the hardest).
• Just be prepared: Cranky kids can become inconsolable, especially when they become thirsty or hungry. Be prepared by bringing small snack foods that are not messy, and some water. Also prepare for the unexpected such as muddy hands, dirt on the clothes, and stuff in the hair. Baby wipes are a god send!
• Sometimes Toys just help: When children become shy or closed off, especially if they are younger, bringing one of their favorite toys/blankets can cheer them up and get their attention. 
• A Change of clothes, just in case: As parents we all know the doomed moment before the big day... a poop-tastrophy! A change of clothes is always welcomed. 

Tip: Pastels and happy colors work great for kids. Try to avoid solid whites, blacks, stripes, and strong patterns. This lets the eye color pop and brings out the hair color of your beautiful child.

We hope that these tips and tricks will help during your next photography session. Put all your worries aside and just have fun!
Next weekend we'll be reviewing indoor locations Vs outdoor locations and how to choose the best one for your perfect pictures. Hope you'll join us!
Like, Comment, Share and as always, Subscribe!

~Amanda
R.E.A.L. Photography

The Photoshoot Checklist

Tips and Tricks from a Photographer to the Client!

We have many friends, family, and clients that have never had their portrait taken and have no idea what to expect from a photoshoot. In this post we'll go over the tips for clients to make each photoshoot go as smoothly as possible. 

Working with your budget and style you can prepare yourself to look the best you can before a photoshoot. There are four main fields that we focus on before a shoot even begins: Face, Hair, Skin, and Clothes.

Face: 

• Whiten Teeth: There are many teeth whitening strips that you can get from the store that will boost your smile and confidence within a week. You can also go to your local dentist and get a whitening if your budget allows. 
• Stop the picking: Pimples are easier to hide with makeup then peeling skin or scabs. Resist the urge to pick or pop! 
• Exfoliate: The skin on your face needs just as much attention and care as the skin on your body. A week before the shoot give your face some extra attention with facials, scrubs, or moisturizers. 
• Remove unwanted hair:  When focusing on the up close and personal any hair out of place stands out. It is better to remove the hair using wax or other methods, than to cover it up with makeup. 

Hair:

• Touch up your color: If you color your hair you want to touch up any roots or grey spots showing a week before the shoot. Men if you want a younger look sometimes a touch up on the beard helps. 
• Change it up with a Trim: Sometimes getting a haircut or restyling boosts a person's confidence and makes the hair look more healthy.
• Don't forget deep conditioning: Salons can do many different deep conditioning treatments that can volumize and shine your hair making it look healthy and full.

Skin:

• Shave: Take the time to shave legs, armpits, and any other exposed area with unwanted hair. 
• Consider a Tan: If you already self tan, a touch up should be considered. If it's in the middle of summer and you burn when the sun touches you, perhaps consider lessening your time in the sun before your photoshoot. Red skin is hard to hide and peeling skin is even worse.

Clothes:

• 5-6 outfits: There are four types of clothes you should keep in mind: Dark, Light, Fun/whimsy, and Sexy. Changing your outfits allows many different sides of your personality to come out in the photoshoot. 
• Always consider neckline and your height: We recommend wearing form fitting clothes that are freshly washed and ironed if necessary. If you are a shorter person, do not wear capris. This makes anyone shorter than 5'9" look even shorter. Also keep in mind low cut necklines. We want natural photos not nude photos. 
• What to avoid: Avoid picking clothes that have textures, patterns, prints, or florals. Clothing like that distracts from our main focus: YOU! We recommend simple solid colors that are not too bold. 
• Forget about the shoes: Unless shoes define your personality, or your favorite shoes need to be in a full body shot, shoes are basically dress casual. Keep it simple and comfortable. 

If you use this advice to the fullest and prepare accordingly your next photoshoot should have you looking absolutely amazing!

Thank you to Emily Miller for the ideas and tips included in this post.

Next Friday we will be talking about what to expect with kids at a photoshoot. 

We hope to see you there! Like, comment, share and, as always, subscribe!

~Amanda

Happy New Year!!

The New Year is finally here!!

We are so glad that 2016 is gone and 2017 is upon us with promises of exciting adventures and crazy fun! Starting a new business was a challenge but we met some amazing people and did some crazy events. 

Check out some of the awesome photos we collected in 2016:

Happy New Years!

~Amanda & Rhi