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The 7 Don’ts of a Family Photoshoot

  • Family walking though trees

The 7 Don’ts of a Family Photoshoot

You’ve come across the perfect Adelaide photographer to take your family pictures—now it’s only a matter of time until your session. With a dreamy and carefree image in mind, you can’t wait to run across that meadow rife with daisies or lift your darling infant above your shoulders to capture their winning smile. Yet, family photography isn’t as easy as pie. To achieve a smooth and spirited shoot, take note of the following photography sins you’ll want to avoid at all times.

Mummy cuddles

DON’T – Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself

“Picture perfect” is a phrase you’ll likely think of when it comes to conducting a family portrait—but hardly will a session go precisely the way you’ve planned. Don’t attach high expectations to what is supposed to be a fun-filled day of clicks and flashes. Smile more and worry less!

Hazing the new guy

DON’T – Skimp on Finding the Right Photographer

Just because your idea is a stellar one doesn’t mean just anyone can pull it off. Regardless of how well-meaning and patient a photographer may be, a fashion expert, for instance, may not have a knack for family photos. Take a look at a photographer’s social media and previous work before concluding.

Hadley sitting pretty

DON’T – Pick a Day or Time That Doesn’t Suit You

It should go without saying that a family photoshoot must involve every member. While accommodating a photographer’s busy schedule might mean having to wait longer than you’d hope, you don’t want to de-prioritise yours either.

Pick a day that won’t mean having to put off an important meeting or re-schedule a dinner. Plan around an open weekend and take into account any potential upcoming events.

The time of day, and weather is also very important when determining the quality of the actual photos you will recieve. It’s best to shoot as early in the day or as late as possible for the so called ‘golden hours‘ of photography.

Semaphore Beach Sunset

DON’T – Wing Your Location

If you have a particular theme in mind for your family photoshoot, don’t ignore the importance of selecting an appropriate location. Think about whether you’ll better achieve your goals in a studio or outside space.

You’ll also want to account for weather. A lush field of flowers, for example, might only be available in the spring, whereas a shoot down by the beach might be more appropriate during the summer than in the winter.

Kuitpo forest couple shoot

DON’T – Forget to Pre-Plan

Families often underestimate the value of pre-planning. If you’re heading into a shoot with younger children, you’ll want to be well-equipped with snacks, water, and toys to keep the little ones entertained. If your photographer doesn’t provide props, you may have to pack those yourself. But try to keep these at a minimum.

It may also be the case that people arent morning people, or some other reason why people can’t arrive on time. Try to plan around this as much as possible and the shoot will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Family photography

DON’T – Take All Day

Regardless of how much your tots enjoy being in front of the camera, too much is often too much. Especially shooting outdoors, spending more than an hour or two under the sun can be incredibly tiring for both your family and photographer. Stick to a schedule or know when to take a break.

An hour is a long time taking photos and in my experience it’s a perfect time scalke in order to get some great photos!

Family portrait

DON’T – Plan Too Many Outfit Changes

Most families will undergo one or two outfit changes during a shoot—but if there aren’t enough dressing rooms to cater to larger families, you won’t want to overpack. Similarly, if you’re working within a time limit, too many outfit changes might take away from the actual shoot.

Grooms shoes in woods

The key to a successful family photo shoot is a lot of careful planning, shopping for the right photographer, and making sure your family is well-rested before the big day. You may not avoid the occasional toddler meltdown—but you can plan around it. Hopefully this short list of ‘don’ts of a family photoshoot’ can help out with capturing some amazing photos!

For family photography in Adelaide that never disappoints, contact us at Sven Studios. We have a knack for working with families from all walks of life and maybe even a soft spot for kids!

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6 Reasons Why an Engagement Shoot Is a Must Have

Why an Engagement Shoot Is a Must

Finally—you’re engaged!, and nothing could be more exciting! For most couples, this time as an enormously stressful one, especially with the wedding planning going on left and right.

One point of contention amidst the flurry of organising the wedding is whether or not an engagement photoshoot is necessary. You may ask yourself if it’s really worth spending your money on. Engagement shoots, however, are more than just nice-to-haves in the grander scheme of things; it can actually have several practical benefits.

6 Reasons Why an Engagement Shoot Is a Must Have

To emphasise this point, here are six reasons why an engagement photoshoot is a must!:

Tiwi Islands Engagement

 

  1. You can get comfortable with the camera

A situation wherein either the bride or the groom doesn’t feel at their best on the big day because they’re incredibly camera-shy is something the couple and the photographer want to avoid. An engagement shoot is a perfect opportunity to warm up to the camera and get some practice on comfortable poses in. Doing this before the big day can make you feel much more relaxed, and the photos will turn out much better.

On the jetty together
  1. It gives you a chance to find the right wedding photographer

Some photographers will get on with a couple swimmingly while others will have a different style that doesn’t quite match. Remember, you must choose your wedding photographer carefully, as it is a significant investment, after all!

It’s not enough to simply browse a photographer’s portfolio. If you can, book a session with them to see if their work fits your preferences. While some photographers offer free or discounted engagement photo sessions, it might be worth spending just a bit more to make sure the photographs are to your liking.

Not only will this ensure that you get the results you want, but your overall experience will be more pleasant too. Building rapport with your photographer is important, as they will be with you for many hours. As they get to know you as a couple, your wedding photographer will also understand how to capture the both of you in the best way possible.

Surprise!
  1. You’re celebrating an important milestone

The wedding itself often eclipses engagements, but they are nevertheless a milestone that should be celebrated. Being engaged tells everyone of your commitment to one another forever as future husband and wife. It is a beautifully unique period between being in a relationship and getting married that you’ll want to capture in photos.

One Tree Hill Engagement shoot
  1. You can combine it with your hair and make-up trial before the big day

Before the wedding, there’s always a trial day for the bride’s hair and makeup. What better way to capture how they’ll look in photos on the wedding day than your engagement shoot? This kills two birds with one stone and can save a lot of time and effort in scheduling wedding preparations for the wedding on different days.

makeup
  1. You’ll have photos to use for the wedding day

By doing a photoshoot early on, you’ll have pictures to use for your save the dates, invites, or on the day itself. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone!

It’s quite a common thing I’ve seen recently where a couple who had done an engagement shoot had a large printed photo on display above their wishing well at their reception. It’s a nice way to personalise the space!

Under the jetty
  1. A chance to have fun and be creative!

Wacky and themed engagement shoots are also a great chance to get some cool shots in your wedding photo book. Maybe you’re both Star Wars geeks or Game of Thrones fans. While you don’t have to use these for your wedding, they’ll certainly be fun to keep for yourselves!

Kung Fu!

The Final Word: Are Engagement Photoshoots Worth It?

Engagement photoshoots are not just nice-to-have, but they have a suitable place for your wedding plans too. It can act as preparation for the big day, especially where actual wedding photos are concerned. Besides being an opportunity to commemorate your engagement, engagement photoshoots make part of the wedding planning process easier, and with beautiful photos, to boot!

Are you looking for wedding photography packages in Adelaide? Sven Studios offers professional wedding photography services to capture your special day in the most natural way possible. We cover weddings all around Australia, including Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra, and Perth. Visit our site today to view our wedding photography packages!

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Our Top 3 Tips to Prepare for Your Outdoor Family PhotoShoot

  • Family hugs

 

Your Outdoor Family PhotoShoot

Outdoor family photos are a great alternative to the traditional studio photo. After all, outdoor photo sessions are often more relaxed, lively, and can feel more authentic than studio photography. With your family in a more comfortable and less restrictive environment, they are much more likely to show their real personalities through their body language and facial expressions.

Our Top 3 Tips to Prepare for Your Outdoor Family PhotoShoot

To make the experience even better, here are our top three tips to prepare for an outdoor family photoshoot:

Choose a good location

When it comes to your outdoor family photoshoot, choosing the right location matters! Besides factoring in the time of day and the appropriate light exposure for your images, the specific details about the background can also make for a good story.

Ideally, the location should be accessible. While a mountain trek may be a good bonding experience with your family members and the peak may make for exciting photo composition, you probably don’t want to look all sweaty and huffing in your final photos. That being said though, you also dont want to shoot in a carpark – a short walk through a park, off the beaten track a bit always makes for a much more interesting photo.

There is also a matter of crowd control. Unless you’re willing to rent out a beach resort for exclusivity, the chances are that there are other people strolling around, which will make it more difficult for you to do an outdoor family shoot.

That being said, there are ways to avoid large crowds of people, such as shooting your photo earlier in the morning or scheduling the shoot on off-season months, where there will be fewer people walking about like Olivia and Dimitri’s shoot taken in the rain on the top of Mt Lofty!

Family photography

Choose the right clothes

Family photos portray you as a single and united unit without making you look stiff and forced. This means that colour coordination is encouraged, though this doesn’t necessarily mean wearing the same shade for everyone!

When we talk about colour coordination, we mean choosing those that complement each other in a way that groups you as a unit while still maintaining individuality. One good example is in wearing pastel-coloured clothing.

Pastel colours are hues that have been tinted with white, giving them a subdued but aesthetically-pleasing appearance. These shades work well with natural light and can add a touch of photographic interest without distracting from you and your family’s facial features.

Family photographer Adelaide

Make sure the young kids are full and well-rested

While everybody’s mood will improve when they are not hungry or tired, it’s the young children that you really have to worry about! Hunger and sleep deprivation are young children’s worst enemies, and it will lead to some rather unpleasant experiences during a photoshoot that’s supposed to capture you and your family at your best spirits!

To get a higher chance of having adorable and cooperative kids on your photo session, ensure that they are well-rested and full from eating their favourite food before the shoot. It’s also a good idea to schedule the shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon—after they’ve taken a nap—to lower the chances of dealing with an irritable kid that just wants to get some sleep.

Walking together as a family

Get a professional family photographer

Just about everyone with a camera can claim to be a photographer, but getting a professional family photographer who can bring out the best in you and your family for a photoshoot is rare. Remember that outdoor photoshoots can present so many uncontrollable variables, which is why hiring a predominantly studio photographer used to having control with studio lights may not be the best choice.

If you have young children, it’s also good to ensure that the photographer has the patience and tricks up their sleeves to get a kid’s cooperation. If possible, spend some time getting to know your family photographer to ensure that your personalities don’t clash and to provide a smooth and productive photo session.

baby in a basket in the grass

An outdoor family photoshoot is an excellent way to capture your family in their most relaxed state. While it can be a bit of an involved process, a professional family photographer will have the necessary skills to produce family photos that are worth remembering and will be cherished for the next years to come.

Sven Studios is a photography studio specialising in capturing natural and fleeting moments that you can treasure forever. Our award-winning family photography services in Adelaide are priced at $260, inclusive of the session itself, the editing of the images, and we offer a wide array of physical products! Contact us today to learn more about our services.

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Maternity Photography Tips and Reminders – What to Know

  • Mumma in the forest

 

Maternity Photography Tips and Reminders

A woman will not be pregnant forever, and believe it or not, it is a life stage that will fly by quickly even though during the hard parts it can seem like it’ll never end. To celebrate this momentous event, women often have a maternity photo session. It allows them to document their precious moments and the magical journey that their bodies go through as they create a new little life. Photos from the shoot will serve as a forever reminder of the excitement and joy of bringing a child into the world.

Whether you are a photographer looking for some maternity photography tips to make this photoshoot session a success or an expecting mom looking for some pointers on how to take your self-portrait or act in front of a camera, here is some useful information that can help you refine the experience.

Maternity Photography Tips

On Composition

  • Some women love seeing their pregnant figure, including all the extra weight. To capture this look, opt to shoot photos at eye level. This composition will put your client’s face and body front in the centre of the shot.
  • Other clients are the exact opposite. They are conscious of their body and weight, and some are even bothered by the added puffiness on their faces. In these scenarios, try to shoot from an angle above the model. A distance of around one or two feet will do. It will slim down all her features, giving her more flattering photos.
Belair Maternity Shoot

What to Wear

The truth is some expecting moms do not feel beautiful about the changes their bodies go through. As a result, some may try to cover up by wearing loose or large clothing. On the other hand, others will want to pose nude or close to it.

Every client is different, so it is essential to make sure that what they are wearing makes them feel comfortable. If you feel that the client needs a little confidence boost, encourage her to wear something elegant and beautiful. Putting on nice clothes can immediately add a certain level of sophistication to the shot and the woman’s self-esteem.

Reminders for the Maternity Photographer

  • Understand Maternity Poses

You might have come across this a lot: a mother smiling while her hand touches her belly. That is the usual pose that people expect from a maternity shoot. While this is an almost mandatory shot that a soon-to-be-mom would expect to have, the photographer should not only get her into the pose. They have to capture her in that position while ensuring that she is comfortable and beautiful as well.

  • Direct Your Client

Finding the right poses that your client can execute well can be challenging since not all moms are professional models. That being the case, you need to unleash your direction skills. Prepare for this by researching the different poses your client can imitate. Come prepared with not so much instructions on how to pose her body, more some activities that someone would be doing while on location, where she can look, what to do with her hands, and what expressions to put on her face. An example light be to simply walk through some trees while flicking her hair or something.

I find the most beautiful shots are taken during some sort of action – this is a good tip to understand, not just when thinking about maternity photography tips!

Make sure not to be so strict or bark out instructions to your client to avoid making her feel miserable. You can start by going over a few posing ideas you have so she knows what to expect from the shoot.

  • Always Consult Your Model

You can always discuss the composition and types of poses you want your client to do, but if she gets uncomfortable with any of them, you need to have backup plans. There will always be a time when looking relaxed and smiling for a pregnant woman can feel unnatural. Remember that she can be in pain during the whole process. What you need to do is check on her frequently and ask whether she is comfortable with what she is doing. She may also have some ideas to make both your lives easier.

Leaning against a tree
Over a pond
Amongst the tall grass

These friendly maternity photography tips and reminders can make the whole maternity shoot session a victory. The main idea is to always keep your client happy, and just remember traipsing around a forest in lingerie isnt exactly the most natural feeling in the world, so try and make it fun! Put these tips into practice to capture a great photo that will serve as a remembrance of this special period.

Sven Studios is here to preserve your precious memories as a new family. Whether you need wedding photography services in Hobart or a newborn or family photography service in Adelaide, we can do it for you. Contact us today to book an appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3 Tips for Choosing the Right Family Photographer

  • Happy bub with Mum 2

 

Choosing the Right Family Photographer

When you’re raising a family, time goes by in the blink of an eye. At one moment, you’re juggling a newborn baby while your two toddlers are running around and making a mess; the next, they’re off to college or starting a new job. Capturing these moments is a great way to preserve the memory forever, especially while your children are the smallest they’ll ever be.

An excellent way to do this is to take family portraits every year, especially while your kids are still young. You can track the subtle changes and growth in your family from one photograph to the next. You’ll want to make sure that you’re choosing the right family photographer to artfully yet genuinely express your family’s spirit.

3 Tips for Choosing the Right Family Photographer

Check Their Portfolio

The first thing you should do is to have a look at their portfolio. Your family portraits will very much resemble their previous work, so if you like what you see, then that’s a great sign. The right family photographer will have photos that you sincerely enjoy looking at even though the people in them are total strangers. Even though the subjects in the pictures aren’t saying anything, you can clearly tell the story going on in them.

You’ll also want to check out their family photography photos and check whether they’re relatively uniform or have some vital differences. Ideally, look for a family photographer that changes their style up a bit to take advantage of different settings and scenes to produce creative, original, and memorable photos. You’ll also want to check their family photography photos for different types of families under varying conditions.

Family photography

Ask About Their Style

Each photographer has a unique style that can be seen across their work. When it comes to portraits, some prefer classic shots where the subjects are seated and posed. Other photographers opt for more dynamic photos where the subjects are interacting with each other or their environment.

There’s no right or wrong style; it all boils down to personal preference. Whether you like fun and quirky poses or traditional style portraits, ask the photographer about the techniques they use and see if it reflects in their portfolio.

Walking along the pond edge

Look For Reviews

Lastly, an essential tip for choosing the right family photographer is to look into what people say about them. There are numerous websites dedicated to reviews and referrals of different services, so you might be able to find testimonials from previous clients. You’ll want to find out if they were easy to work with, if they were flexible, and how they dealt with difficult situations.

An excellent place to start would be checking the photographers’ own website and social media accounts. Once you’ve adequately combed through them, cross-reference the reviews you’ve seen with reviews on other platforms. Although you should be on the lookout for positive reviews, keep in mind that there may be negative reviews submitted by customers who are challenging to work with and satisfy.

The less than perfect reviews can be most interesting – not because of how bad the photographer was, but more how they reacted to the poor review. You can’t make everyone 100% happy, but you can try your best to right any percieved wrongs!

Family hugs

Choosing the right family photographer is essential to ensure you get the family portraits you’ve always wanted. These professionals know how to tell your family’s story while capturing the magic and spirit. With these three tips, you’ll find the perfect photographer to preserve your most precious memories and have them proudly displayed on your walls!

Looking for photographers in Adelaide to help you with your family portraits? Let us know at Sven Studios! We are professional photographers that specialize in wedding and family photography. Contact us today to see how we can help!