I loved meeting this sweet family to photograph their newest addition, Eloise, while they were in St Louis. She was absolutely perfect, and her siblings adore her already. Each one of them was so excited for their turn to get a photo with their baby sister. I can tell this momma has lots of wonderful help at home. Here are a few of my favorites from their newborn session.
Award-winning photographer, Jill Shadden,
is based in St Charles, Missouri
and specializes in newborn, child, and family
portrait photography throughout the St Louis area.
Congratulations, parents and seniors... you've made it to Senior year! This is a year jam-packed with emotional moments, deadlines, evolving friendships, and preparation into your next step of young adulthood. Your Senior photos are the perfect way to document this special time in your life!
Let's lay out all the things to keep in mind when planning for your Senior photos.
#1: What time of year is best for your Senior photos?
When planning the timing for your Senior photos, there's a few factors to think about.
What season are you most busy? Try not to schedule during a stressful time of year for you. This might mean scheduling in the summer before school starts or on Spring break.
What type of clothes do you like best? If you love showing off a tan in your sundress, book for August or early September. If you're most comfortable in jeans and love warm tones, schedule early for Fall. Those peak fall foliage dates fill up months ahead!
Guys especially: don't rule out a Spring shoot. Oftentimes, the guys change so much their Senior year. If you take your photos in August, you may feel like they are outdated by your graduation in May/June.
Choosing the right outfits for your senior photos is key to capturing your unique personality and style. This is often the most difficult part of the process.
I always suggest 3 outfits for your Senior photos if you have an hour-long session. The most important part is that you feel confident and comfortable.
Casual or dressy? Honestly, that is totally up to you. I prefer a combination of both.
I suggest avoiding clothes with small patterns and stripes or neon colors because they don't always photograph well.
Don't forget that your fingernails will be noticeable. Keep them clean and trimmed or painted.
Not only are you are going to get more comfortable with your photographer and the photo process as the shoot goes on, the light is usually going to continue to improve throughout your shoot as well. You're actually going to want to start with your least favorite outfit.
Show your outfits to your photographer before you even start shooting, and get their opinion on which ones will be best for the areas they plan to take you to.
To tan or not to tan? My honest answer to this is simply no. If you do decide that you want to spray tan, please go to a professional and try it out a couple weeks before to make sure you like it. Your natural skin tone will typically photograph best and it's fine to use a little bronzer to achieve that summer glow. I personally think matte foundations with a fuller coverage photograph best. You might consider booking with a professional makeup artist, but I do not feel like it's necessary.
Acne happens - don't stress about it. All Senior photographers are very familiar with retouching blemishes.
Thank you for prioritizing these photos. You will never regret it!
Encourage shopping early so it's an enjoyable, not stressful situation.
Don't hover too much: It's a lot easier to feel natural in front of the camera when you are not being closely watched. Give your photographer and child a little space, while remaining close enough if they need you.
Compliments! When you compliment your child, they immediately feel more confident, and in-turn, this will be reflected in their expressions.
Trust your photographer. You chose them for a reason. If you have favorite poses or a Pinterest board, it's ok to share them with your photographer, but just remember that every shoot is unique.
Try to leave plenty of time to arrive a little early in case of traffic. Cue up some good hype music!
If you enjoyed your experience and your final product: Share your photos, tag your photographer, share your experience, write a google review.
Any other tips you have in mind? Leave them in the comments!
All right, Moms. We all know that 95% of the time you are the ones that booked the session, emailed the photographer, planned the outfits, made sure everyone got a nap, etc. None of this would even happen without you.
HOWEVER, I'm gonna talk to the Dads here for a minute.
There's this factor that completely correlates with the success of a photo session, and that is
DAD-ITUDE. While everyone plays a crucial role in making the photoshoot a success, there's something particularly impactful about the energy a dad brings to the session.
Dads who bring positive energy make the experience enjoyable, turning it into a fun family activity rather than a chore. Smiles come easier, laughter is more genuine, and the resulting photos reflect that authenticity. Your positive energy trickles down to the entire family. This starts from the day your photo session is booked. Your kids hear if you complain or make negative comments. Then, they adopt your attitude. Recognize the importance of the photos and the work your partner has put into making this happen. (Extra kudos to the guys that do the booking too!) Why Dads are so Important to Family Photo Day
These are the moments we want to capture for you, where everyone is genuinely happy. Whether it's lifting up the baby in the air for smiles, throwing a kid on your shoulders, or giving them a big bounce, be candid and playful with your young kids. Take this opportunity to enjoy your family and let your photographer capture this special time in your lives.
When your kid is giving a fake smile to the camera, your photographer is aware that it's not a genuine smile. They will keep shooting and offering prompts to get that genuine smile. Instead of making any comments about their expression, try complimenting them and see how their expression changes with that little boost of confidence. You can also help by making a joke or silly comment. For babies, go ahead and stand behind the photographer and smile at your baby; feel free to act a fool, dance, and clap. It's what we do! Photographers love when you're willing to get a little silly for smiles.
Rushing out the door can be a stressful event that leaves everyone grumpy on the way to the shoot. Leave plenty of extra time to get everyone ready. Start getting ready earlier than you think is necessary so that you aren’t rushed getting out the door. Play some fun music on the way, and plan a little treat for afterward!
Step away when you feel frustrated. Is your kid being a little shit? Walk away and let your photographer handle it. We have plenty of tricks to wrangle the kids or get them to snap out of a shy or moody spell. Try to avoid being a disciplinarian if possible.
dad kissing baby boy
fall family photo
Never Underestimate Your Importance.
Ultimately, the energy that Dad brings to a photoshoot doesn’t just affect the day itself; it affects the final product. Photos are a reflection of the moments they capture. Dads have such an important role in your family, and we love to document that in your photos. Try not to stress, but bring the calming happy energy that your family loves. We are so honored to capture these memories for you!
I'll end this post with a few cherished memories with me and my Dad. You'll never regret taking the photo!
