10 Secrets to Getting Momma Ready for Family Pictures

We at HowDoesShe.com are pleased to welcome a fabulous guest who is here to share some tips that will make your next family photo session a piece of cake! Michelle Gifford is a family and senior photographer in Southern California.  She is the momma to four amazing kids and the wife to her tall, dark and handsome husband.  She believes there is power in capturing the heart and beauty of real people with real stories.  She has started a site, called Beauty Revived, to feature the stories of real women with real beauty.  Photographers can giveaway a session to a deserving women who shows attributes of true beauty and these sessions are featured daily at www.beautyrevived.com. 

www.michellegiffordphotography.com

Take it away, Michelle!

10 Secrets to Getting Momma Ready for Family Pictures

So, it is family picture season.  Are YOU ready for it?  It is a lot of pressure getting the whole family looking good, clean and happy all while looking in the same direction.  Seriously, it is asking a lot. And plus, this is probably some of the only pictures you have that you will actually be in with your kids (and no, Instagram selfies don’t count).  Well, there are some things you can do to increase your odds of everything going smoothly and I’ve wrapped it up nicely in this little list.

1. Book a professional photographer. There is a lot of time and money going into getting ready for this day, make sure you don’t do it all in vain.  You don’t have to spend a fortune.  Many photographers (like myself) do Christmas mini sessions that allow you to book with them at a fraction of the price.
2. When choosing the look of your session, keep your hair and make-up classic and save the trends for the clothes. 
3. Choose clothes at least a week in advance and make sure you have everything planned from head to toe. Think about what you and your family look good in and feel comfortable wearing.  What is going in the hair and what shoes are you wearing?  Getting the right shoes can complete the look.
4. Don’t leave any decisions to be made the day of the shoot. Flustered isn’t a good look, so do everything you can beforehand to make things go smoothly.  
5. During the week before the shoot, try out your hair and makeup. You don’t want picture day to be the day you try something new.
6. Makeup shows up differently on camera than it does in real life. One of my favorite tricks that make-up artists use is contouring.  Did you know that a little shading can make you look a lot thinner?  Well it can.  I love this youtube video that shows you how to get natural looking photo makeup. 
7. Wear fake eye lashes and fill-in the brows. Lashes cost $10 and it is totally worth it.  Just do it, it will make you feel extra sassy and make your eyes pop, pop, pop.  Fill-in the brows with a little brown shadow.  It instantly frames your eyes and makes you look more polished.
8. For a few days before the shoot, a couple times a day, look yourself in the mirror right in the eyes and say (without laughing), “I am photogenic.”  Haven’t you noticed that “photogenic” is an attitude more than anything? I have taken pictures of beautiful people who aren’t photogenic and it is just because they don’t believe they are photogenic.  And, while you are looking yourself in the mirror, go ahead and strike a couple poses.  Find out what looks good for you and your body.  So, just admit it, you are gorgeous and work your inner Tyra.
9. Bring hair products, make-up and anything else you might need for touch-ups to the session.
10. The above tips have been directed at you, beautiful momma, but here’s some things for the kiddos. Make sure the kids’ fingernails are cut and clean.  Take a look at the arms of your little muffins and remove all the marker and temporary tattoos.  Tell your photographer beforehand if there are any special games you play together or things that are sure to bring a smile to their faces.  If you are bringing treats for your kids, bring things that if a little drool escapes those sweet mouths, it won’t color the clothes.  Smarties are classic and pretty clean.  Bribing your kids is okay and encouraged.  A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?  Also, don’t threaten or yell at your kids.  Remember, you want real smiles and happy faces.