Why book a professional family photoshoot?
In the age of smartphones, you might well wonder why you should book a professional family photoshoot. After all, you can take photos easily with the camera device in your pocket, and the quality isn’t half bad these days, either!
Despite this, I believe there are many reasons why you might choose to invest in a family photographer.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. I would say that wouldn’t I? But, honestly, it’s true!
I too invest in professional photography so I have portraits of my own brood (this is us, below). It’s something that I’ll never regret.
Five reasons to book a professional family photoshoot
Here are some of the reasons why I consider family photography among the best money you’ll ever spend as a parent.
1. Family photographs freeze time and keep precious memories alive
As a mum myself, I find it staggering how quickly children grow!
My own three children are now aged 10, 13 and 15 years and although admittedly a lot of time has passed since they were born, it still doesn’t seem that long ago since I was navigating those tricky first few months with my eldest as a newborn baby.
I can still recall moments from that time, and from many happy family occasions since, but there’s nothing that keeps those memories alive more clearly than photographs.
While I don’t feel that in myself I have changed that much, when I look in the mirror I realise that I am older and that so much has changed since the children were born.
There’s no other way of explaining it really. As a parent, time just flies!
One thing I am finding difficult to grasp is that our teenagers are just a handful of years away from adulthood, and potentially flying the nest!
Something that did make me smile recently was that when I saw our shoes by the front door of the house the other day, I realised that I now have the second smallest feet out of us all (and my feet aren’t small)! My thirteen-year-old son now wears a size 10.5 shoe and stands at almost six foot high!
Pictures of the children and of us all together are among the most precious things I own. I wouldn’t ever want to be without them so that I can always recall those wonderful times we’ve spent together.
The family photos have essentially frozen time. They are a permanent reminder to me of moments we’ve enjoyed as a family, and if anything, I wish I’d taken even more than I have.
2. A professional family photoshoot will capture you all together
Another reason why I would urge you to regularly book a professional family photoshoot is that if you’re taking photos of your family yourself, chances are, mums, you’re the one always taking the photo and are not often in the photo.
This is a generalisation of course (sorry, dads!), but does seem common in a lot of families. There is usually one parent who is more inclined to capture family photos, but at the risk of them often not being involved themselves.
Yes, there is the option on most camera phones to do selfies and to use a timer so that a group can be photographed together, but how often do you really use that and capture you all as a group?
A professional family photoshoot creates the perfect opportunity for you to all be pictured as a family unit, with no one being left out.
Group family photos are lovely to have and are ideal for displaying around the home. They’re certain to become treasured keepsakes in the years to come.
3. Professional family portraits are more than just snapshots
To assume that you can take a similar quality photograph using a smartphone or basic camera is, in my view, a huge disservice to professional photographers.
Those who run photography businesses and take pictures for a living know more and do far more than just point and shoot!
As a professional family photographer myself, I can assure you that photography is a skill. One that is developed over time and through practice.
We photographers are knowledgeable about not just how to take a picture, but in the art of managing light and posing and styling portraits, and in image selection and photo editing. All this contributes to the final images that you receive as a paying customer.
Snapshots taken on a mobile phone pale in comparison to the quality of a professionally taken family portrait. Hopefully, that’s evident from the photos I’m sharing here and across my website.
Be honest, could you really create something similar yourself on your smartphone?
4. A professional photographer can create natural portraits that show your personalities
Another reason why I believe that an investment into a professional family photoshoot is well worth making is that the portraits a photographer will take will be far more natural.
My style of photography is to capture natural moments and facial expressions, and the true-to-life way in which you interact with each other. You certainly won’t ever hear, “say cheese!”, during a family photoshoot with me!
I love and create this style of photography because I believe that it’s a beautiful way to represent the true dynamic of your family. Your young child’s gappy smile or your husband’s cheeky grin – I’ll capture all that in your family portraits.
These natural moments make the best family photos, and I’m able to capture all of that for you through a fun photoshoot experience.
Whether you book me for a mini shoot among the spring flowers or we meet in a local park during the summer sunshine, or as the leaves begin to fall during autumn, I work hard to ensure that your outdoor family photoshoot is relaxed and enjoyable for everyone.
Related reading: Creative ways to display your family photos in your home
5. Have photos taken now, in case you never get around to it otherwise!
A final reason I want to share with you as to why I believe that you should invest in a professional family photoshoot is that if you don’t commit now, will you ever get round to it?
As I mentioned, time flies as a parent and the years seem to quickly roll around one after the other! If you put off a professional family photoshoot, when is it that you’re actually going to make this a priority?
There’s never a perfect time to have photos taken, so please don’t wait. I see so many families put it off for no real reason.
If you’re thinking that you’d like to lose a few pounds first or you haven’t had your hair done in a salon for years, so what?! How you look now, and how your children look now, right in this moment, is what you’re going to want to remember in the years to come.
There’s no getting time back once it’s gone, but having photos taken is the best way to try and preserve your family memories for the long term.
Kind words about my professional family photoshoots
Fiona said: “We highly recommend Andrea. We had a fun, family afternoon photoshoot with lots of laughs, giggles and smiles all round! Andrea put us all at ease with her lovely, relaxed nature and the resulting photos are amazing and capture our family perfectly. Thank you Andrea!”
Paul said: “We had the most amazing photo session with our granddaughters and Andrea. A fabulous experience full of fun and laughter, in which Andrea was an inspiration. Our girls haven’t stopped talking about it!!!!”
Victoria said: "I love Andrea's photos because she doesn't just take pictures, she captures personalities. My favourite photos are of expressions I really recognise: my children doing things they enjoy, unconscious of the camera. This is the result of patient watching, interesting settings and a real understanding of children. She's warm, good fun, and quick to put even the most camera-shy at ease. A shoot is an adventure they'd happily go on again. "Can we take another picture?"
Book your outdoor family photoshoot today
If you’re based in or around Leeds, York or Harrogate and are thinking about booking in for a professional family photoshoot, contact me via this form.
Throughout the year I run seasonal mini portrait sessions as well as full family portrait sessions across North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, and I can cater for large family groups as well – the more the merrier!
Of course, if you’re not sure what you’re after, I’m here to help and advise.
Related reading: How to prepare for a family photoshoot
I can’t wait to help you make some precious family photo memories!
Andrea
