Smile! - 3 tips for fantastic fall family photos

photo to the right, our 2012 fall photo

The leaves have changed colors. Daylight savings time has ended. The air is a bit more crisp. Time for fall family photos.

My family and I just wrapped up our session. I let out a sigh of relief because I usually get worked up about this. If you can relate, here our 3 big tips that can ease your fall family photo anxiety:

Price:

Fall family photos aren't just about appearance. Price is important. But you don't have to spend big bucks to get a quality photographer.

Check out Craigslist. Yes, Craigslist. There are many freelance photographers looking for jobs. Type your photography wants/needs and post. You are sure to be flooded with photographers vying for you to say yes to them. Be sure to carefully screen your top picks, google them, ask them for references or view their portfolio.

Last year, we went with a photography student. She was experienced and her asking price was reasonable. Our price included all pictures on a CD. This way, we were not limited in the way we wanted to use our pictures.

This year, I found a great package deal on Groupon, for under $30. It's a professional photography company that contracts with photographers across the United States. The photographers meet the clients in outdoor locations with beautiful backdrops. I'm excited to see the finished product!

Outfits:

Pick a color scheme already! Gone are the days when each person's shirt had to be the same color. Or everyone wore the same pattern.

Instead don't be afraid to have colors that pop. Fuchsia, mustard, royal blue colors give that extra pop to pictures.

Now, don't go having everybody dress in those colors! Have at least one person's outfit stand out, usually the mom or a small kid. Use the fuchsia, mustard, royal blue or whatever color you choose, as an accent color. Maybe mom's scarf has hints of fuchsia. Or baby girl's tights are a mustard color. Color accents are easily done with moms and girls, guys need a little convincing when adding color.

Take a look at how this beautiful family added accent colors and how they played the color game from one stand out outfit:

giovannalou.blogspot.com

Bold colors not your thing? You can make neutral colors work as well.

http://www.polyvore.com/family_fall_what_to_wear/set?.svc=copypaste&embedder=0&id=38037331

This color scheme has some pop to it, look at baby girl's tights, leopard print! Mom's scarf choices are made of a great print as well.

I gathered ideas from Pinterest, many photographers put together "what to wear" boards that are very helpful and help you think outside the box.

Be sure to use items you already own, no need going out to buy things you've seen on a Pinterest board! This way, not only are you saving money on the photographer session but on clothing expenses as well.

Relax?

Ok, alright, go ahead, relax.

It's only a picture, right? Yes, it's only a picture. Relax, you want your true personality to shine through. Up-tightness can show through a picture!

My A type personality causes me to be a drill sergeant around picture taking time. So, here are some of my do's and don'ts on picture taking day:

Do make sure that outfit color schemes are somewhat coordinated.

Don't annoy everyone with tips on how to smile or how to fold their hands. 

Do make sure that everyone is ready on time. 

Don't get so annoyed with everybody not following your rules that you are now uptight. 

Do what you can to get everybody in a good mood, even yourself!

It's only a picture!

Does your family take annual photos? Ever had any that would be akwardfamilyphotos.com worthy?

It's a family affair

Volunteering has always been my "thing". I got my first taste when I was a senior in high school. A few classmates and myself volunteered with feeding the homeless for Thanksgiving. Throughout the years, I've tried to keep it going, projects like cleaning parks, Habitat for Humanity to name a few. I may not have a ton of money to donate to help different causes but I do have time. Volunteering gives me a feeling of helping, reaching out, giving to others. I have also tried to instill this in my kids. Yogli and I have done a couple of projects together. Usually, Hummingbird is too young to participate. Yesterday was her first taste of helping out.

Our church, Trinity Chapel, holds an annual community Easter Egg Hunt. Yogli thought it would be a good idea for us all to volunteer as a family.What a great way to celebrate and show our gratitude of having a risen King. We all agreed and signed up for the set-up crew. The set-up crew. Arrival time 7 am on a Saturday morning. Hey, we're on vacation, so we were game for anything. Surprisingly, I didn't have to wake up Hummingbird. She was so excited. 

7 am Saturday morning, still dark outside, we arrived at the church. Hummingbird was the only kid there. She jumped right in by carrying boxes of Sunny Delight to the foyer area. MonkeyMan and Yogli headed out to set-up the inflatables. Hummingbird and I stayed inside and helped stuff goody bags.What a great feeling being able to share this experience with her. She was so eager to help out. All of the other adults commented on how helpful and well behaved she was. 

She even got an extra wooden nickel (the incentive TC kids receive in church) for being there bright and early helping out. 

Soon, the sun started coming up and more people started showing up. We all sat and ate breakfast and put our volunteer t-shirts on. I loved the camaraderie that was going on. Age, color, male or female, it didn't matter. We all had one single goal: to show the community God, through our actions. We would soon be serving folks who may have never stepped foot inside a church or maybe never heard of Jesus. Our goal was not to beat them over the head with the bible, but to show them love. Yes, it's that simple. What a great feeling to share this with my family. Soon, the walkway was flooded with people. Walking up, kids in tow, baskets, buckets. It was a chilly morning but we had a goal. That goal was accomplished through many smiles, many laughs, new friendships, stronger relationships.