You may be thinking about professional portraits for your family. Family session photography is what I enjoy most. I’d like to make the experience easy and enjoyable for your family. Many people visit the Wilmington area beaches and hope for beach family photos. Having lived in the Wilmington, Cape Fear coastal area for so long I can help you plan.

Reasons for Family Photos

When preparing for your family session, always consider the most desired use of the best images that get created. What are you hoping to do with the images? Are you only wanting images to share on social media? Do you want a family heirloom album to keep for many years to come? Do you want to create family wall art for specific rooms in the house? Knowing the answers to these questions will guide you and the photographer in planning wardrobe styles and colors, choosing location landscaping, and considering the various family poses and groupings to feature.

Heirloom Family Wall Art

When large framed wall art is desired, landscaping and color schemes in the images should complement your home. You may want to work with the photographer that will help you plan for a specific kind of canvas or framing. You may want quality materials that will last longer than what you may get at a local photo print lab. This plays a role in the investment you should plan for your family session. I have some technology I can use to help you envision your images on the very wall of your home. If you would like this help, tell me before your session. We can take it into account as we plan for the right location and talk about your wardrobe.

Choosing Location for Your Family Photos

For beautiful family portraits we need good lighting. I want to help you enjoy this in your portraits and ask you to allow me to suggest locations that fit the general idea of what you would like in your family photos.

When you share your ideas and hope for your family portraits, I can offer suggestions of locations just right for your family session. For example if you want the sun on the horizon but just can’t plan to wake up for sunrise, I know beaches in the area where we can have session at sunset with the sun setting on the water!

Location hunting is part of what I do. You want flowers, then we might plan to reserve Airlie Gardens. You want a willow tree? I know where one is. If you love crepe myrtle trees, I know a hidden grove that blooms in July. Maybe you like the look of the old homes in downtown. I know a few streets that really light up beautifully at certain times of day with the over hanging flowers and foliage. Have some ideas in mind of what you envision, and I’ll try to search out the local area to find something that fits.

Not every location nor hour of the day can provide this for you. We may want to avoid the harsh bright sunlight of the midday and unpleasant features in landscaping or buildings that bring unwanted color casts into your skin tones.

We have several locations in the area full for foliage and colors that are free to the public such as the Arboretum, Battery Buchanan near Fort Fisher, and many sidewalks downtown by the historic homes. Some desired location need to be checked for available limited parking like Wrightsville Beach.

Choosing Outfits for Family Session Photography

Once you have decided the purpose for your photos and a location is chosen, then you can consider color schemes and outfits for your family session. Imagine the large canvas print on your wall that hangs for years to come. What do you want your family to wear for such an image? Many people desire something that will not clash with other colors of the room and choose to wear soft neutral tones that complement one another.

If the landscaping has lots of summer greens, colors should be softer and lighter to offset the green. Light blues, soft pinks, and creams work well to accent against the dark greens of grass, shrubs and trees. If you have a beach landscape with the sunset neutral colors, even navy, work fine because of the neutrality of the sand around you. If you love the colors of the pink sky at sunset then wear similar colors of the sand or the sky. Wearing all white or off white on the beach works well, too, in the soft light of the sunset or sunrise sessions.

The most important part of your family portrait are the faces of your loved ones. Nothing else should compete with the attention to someone’s face. Don’t wear patterns that are so bold and busy they distract from seeing your faces. If you are in doubt, feel free to ask the photographer for suggestions and ideas.

I have many other things I can advise you on to help in your wardrobe decisions that will enhance your family portrait. When you book with me, I will send you more descriptive information to guide you in the process.

Want some more ideas for your kids, visit my link to find ideas for dresses for your girls.

Extended Family Portraits

Families choose to have portraits made for various reasons. Sometimes you have a large extended family event with many loved ones you don’t see often enough. I personally have a soft spot in my heart for family reunions and believe in taking the opportunity to capture the family together. Sitting on the front porch of a cousins house, while listening to an Uncle or grandpa tell stories of his youth are memories we should treasure. Let me help you capture something special.

Extended family photo sessions can give you opportunity to have mini sessions for family units, the newly married or engaged, grandparents and grandchildren, or other special family relationships special to you. I would like to help you make the most of such a session.

Perhaps you rent a large beach house where everyone can come be a part of the family fellowship. If your rented home lies close enough to the ocean, your session could include portraits on the porch or deck as well as the beach. Many of the newer built homes have spaces with large windows that make indoor natural light photography very possible. Your hours for a session could begin earlier in the day in this case. You have lots of possibilities. Consider grandparent photo sessions, too.

Family Photo Session Prices

Your family session photography investment relates to your hoped for results. You should consider session reservation fees, session fees, the purchase of prints or wall art, and the cost of the purchase of buying items for your wardrobe if you think that is also needed.

When working with Ellen Sligh Photography, I will help you plan for the session where it is needed, give suggestions for wardrobe, and check out the location beforehand. I also will provide an online gallery where you can view your images, download the digitals, and purchase any prints, canvases, or wall art you might desire. I also can design albums for you.

Please see my general information regarding beginning investment prices for my family or extended family session. Then contact me for more detailed information regarding prices for family session photography.

Idea: Consider combining your family session with other ideas like this senior beach portrait session with family.