A little preparation and planning go a long way when it comes to getting family photos in Vancouver. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but thinking ahead can really make a difference to the outcome of your photos. Thinking ahead can get you some of the most beautiful, imaginative, colourful and timeless pictures you’ll ever see!

Considerations such as what you and your family wear to your family photo shoot, your kids’ emotions (or your own) and the activities of the day are really important.

So in an effort to get you the best pictures possible, here are my five best tips to help you prepare for your Vancouver family photo shoot:

1. Plan your family’s wardrobe carefully

Not only should your clothes look classic and timeless, they should also co-ordinate with your family’s clothing. By matching things like tone and style (don’t dress your son in jeans and a sleeveless shirt while you’re in a fancy dress), you’ll add an important sense of unity to the image.

Here are the best types of clothes for your kids to wear for professional family photos:

• jeans or comfy shorts

• a T-shirt without logos or bold designs

• a sweater without logos or bold designs

• a rain jacket

• appropriate shoes, such as sandals or their school shoes

Here are the best types of clothes for you and your partner to wear for professional family photos:

• jeans or casual slacks

• a T-shirt without logos or bold designs

• a sweater without logos or bold designs

• or a comfortable, conservative dress

• comfortable shoes, preferably flats

• minimal jewelry

• tidy facial hair and hairstyles that aren’t too trendy, as trendy styles will date your photos quickly

2. Bring accessories

Accessories, such as toys, can make a really fun addition to your family photos! Some families opt to bring books, kites, a football or soccer ball, baby toys, the stroller, handheld windmills or other little extras to their photo shoots, and I’d recommend you to consider doing the same!

Choose accessories that mean something to your family. Favourite toys and heirlooms are always a great choice, whereas an iPad is not!

3. Bring other family members

Surprisingly (or not!), some of my favourite family photography shoots in Vancouver have included more than just immediate family.

I did a silly Christmas shoot where the family dressed their pug in a Santa Claus hat. Another one was a beach shoot that included grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Your family photographs don’t necessarily need to be just the two, three, four or five of you. Think about bringing along other people and pets that you love!

4. Relax beforehand

I know that getting kids portraits and family photography in Vancouver is difficult and stressful, but it’s important to not let those emotions bleed into the images themselves. Everyone can tell when someone in the photo is grumping through their day. Even if something isn’t going right or even if you received some bad news beforehand, try to remember: “I’m here with my family that I love, and we’re going to capture a great moment in time.” Good thoughts always come through!

Need help? This article has some great tips for how to unwind in just a few short minutes before your family photography session.

5. Choose the perfect location

While Vancouver family photographers, such as myself, can find all kinds of wonderful spots for pictures, it makes much more sense to pick settings that have meaning for you. Maybe the park where you and your partner first met, or near the playground of your child’s first school.

Whatever the location, if it means something to you, the photographs will mean so much more. Not only that, there’s a great chance that the memories you have will put you in a great mood when you arrive.

For some tips on what makes a great location, check out this article. There’s more to choosing the right spot than nostalgia – finding shade on a sunny day or shelter from the rain are important, and the quality of light greatly affects the outcome of your pictures.

Ask me if you need any recommendations.

6. Plan for the unexpected

Ah, yes, that old adage.

The reality is that Vancouver family photography will always be susceptible to the weather, so having a change of clothes ready in case it rains is a good idea. Check the weather before our appointment and dress appropriately – even photos in the rain often turn out more beautiful than you imagined!

Make sure to gather the whole family beforehand, rather than all meeting up at our photo shoot location at the last moment. It’s best not to run around frantically when you should be simply focused on enjoying yourself!

In my experience as a photographer, I’ve noticed that taking family portraits is not only lots of fun, but also one of the most important events your family can have.

A family photo shoot is at once a moment for creating lasting, happy memories for your kids, and an opportunity to encourage a profound and enduring family bond that will grow over time and reinforce positive emotions in your children. Even in this digital age where everyone has a camera, getting professional portraits that truly show your family at their best is the perfect way to celebrate this special time together.

It’s about saving the moment as a keepsake

Family photography in Vancouver today sometimes seems to be about simply showing people the members of your family for use in a card or an e-mail chain.

For me, though, the true value of family photos, especially in Vancouver, is to capture that exact moment in time for your family. By recalling the smells around you, the colours and scenery you experienced in that moment, every time you look at the picture, you’ll be transported back to that specific time and place.

I truly believe that photos have much more impact when they aren’t intended purely for Facebook, but when the photo is meant to teleport you back in time to the genuine smiles and laughs your family shared that day.

Imagine being in Stanley Park with your child running around the woods, or on the beaches in Kits – these memories will be that much more potent when you can see the intense greens of the forest or smell the salty ocean fragrances captured within the images.

By working extensively with families for years, I can recognize the fact that those that hire a family photographer in Vancouver are those that really understand and cherish the idea of a family unit. It’s not just by coincidence either: psychologists say that getting family photographs can instil positive values in children by reinforcing a solid, family dynamic. In my experience, I have seen this and I love working with families for this precise reason.

The importance of all photography is to capture those small, almost insignificant details that you and your family will remember for the rest of your lives.

The uncommon angle: Going over and above (and down low)

Families that meet me will tell you I’m not your average family photographer in Vancouver. The main reason is: I’m not shy to do what it takes to get the uncommon angle, or a different perspective, for your family photos.

On one hand, smartphone cameras are a complete blessing. Moms and dads take more photos than ever, because it’s so easy.

We're all armed with iPhones. Within moments, we can capture and review dozens of photos and select only the best to keep in our digital photo albums.

However, few parents consider that something – or rather, someone – is missing from these cherished photographs: yourselves.

With the exception of a few selfies here and there, parents are so rarely seen in their Vancouver family photos. So many of us have become DIY family photographers, but a very important part of the family is missing from these pictures.

Why we still need Vancouver family photographers

I still believe wholeheartedly in professional family photography for Vancouver parents.

You – the mom or the dad – deserve to be in pictures with your kids. Because these are the photos you’ll cherish for years, even decades, and will display in frames around your house to show to guests, and to glance at as you hurry past.

As a Vancouver family photographer, I have nothing against iPhone photos of kids. It’s just that, every now and then, it’s important to get photos that bring the whole family together into one image that looks great and truly captures a moment in your family’s life together.

While iPhone photos are fun and easy, professional family portraits always turn out better, and are worth displaying at home. These are the photos we’ll look at time and again, as opposed to the quick snaps we save on our phones and rarely review.

Most importantly, though, professional family portraits make sure that everyone – even you – is part of the picture and looking their best, playing with the kids, grinning in a completely carefree way.

Photographing unfiltered emotion with your children

Some of the best photographs I’ve taken in my time as a Vancouver family photographer are candid shots of parents and their kids, simply being together. There’s a certain level of emotion that reveals itself when your family forgets there’s a camera nearby, and those real moments of everyday life together shine through. Those are the kinds of photos I love to capture for your family, but are so rare, even to the point of being impossible, when there’s an iPhone in the room, poised for a selfie.

Please look over my gallery of family photography taken in Vancouver, or the photos on my Facebook. I’d be honoured to have you call me at 778.858.1862 about organizing a photo shoot with your loved ones.

"I was delighted with not only at how Mauricio managed to put me at ease behind the lens but also with the overall outcome of the final product...I would encourage others to give him the opportunity to prove his skills to you. I assure you, you will not be disappointed."
- Michael Bertling, Electrician