Family Portraits +Discount!

As most of you already know, I have a real passion for photography. Taking photos and trying to get creative behind the lens is something that I have always loved to do. With that being said, I don’t normally take family photos of my own family. It’s just so hard to be sure everyone is looking at the camera, smiling and sitting in place when you aren’t actually behind the camera. Since I don’t take our family photos, we don’t get them taken near as often as I would like, but we do get them taken. I think it’s important to have an up to date photo of the family.

(The above photo is not my own. I borrowed it from the jcpportaits pinterest board. Isn’t it lovely!?)

Tips for a Great Family Photo…

1. Try to make sure everyone matches. (You don’t have to look like twins, but make sure don’t have clothing on that completely clashes).
2. Solid colors are best, but if you want to wear something that isn’t a solid color make sure it isn’t too busy and distracting. YOu want the people in the photo to be the center focus and do not want distracting clothing or props taking away from that.
3. Make sure everyone is well rested! Do not show up to get your family portraits when you know it is nap time for your children. This could make for a very long and uneventful photo shoot.
4. Bribe your children (ok, I know I shouldn’t say that and I probably will hear something about this, but I have found that bribing rewarding my children after the photo session has really helped. We like to go for ice cream afterwards, and my children are typically happy to sit still and smile quickly because they know the sooner we get the photo session over with, the sooner they get to eat ice cream. It’s a win-win!)
5. Be prepared to wait. I have never walked into a photo studio and not had to wait a bit. I like to bring handheld games or coloring books for my boys to entertain themselves with while we wait. This helps to keep tears at bay and boredom from setting in.
6. Be prepared to spend some money. I have a hard time telling them that I don’t want a photo after they have snapped it. One way to keep from spending a lot of extra money is to only have them take the photos you really want. If you don’t really want to  have photos of each child individually or of yourself and your husband by yourself, politely tell the photographer this. You can save yourself the money (because you know if you see them you will want to buy them) and you can save the photographer time-and yourself!
7. Have fun! Try to stay in a positive mood and keep your family in a positive mood. It is sometimes hard for the men to be happy about having photos taken, but try to keep everyone upbeat and happy so the photos can be taken  faster.
8. Find a photo studio that you love and stick with it! Often times switching around can leave you disappointed. If you find a studio you love stick with it. A lot of times you can call and ask for specials or even get put on an email or postal mail delivery system so you will receive special offers. Use them!

 

JCPPortraits are a great place to start. We have visited one of their studios in the past and have been quite impressed with the quality of the portraits as well as the professionalism of the photographers. It is important to find a studio that you love. Family portraits are a great way to keep memories of loved ones forever.

As a matter of fact, jcpportraits is  having  an amazing April promotion! You can get 6 traditional portrait sheets (mix and match size and images!) for just $20!!!  But that’s not all…You will also receive one FREE $9 sitting fee!

We plan to have our family portraits done within the next couple of months! I think it’s important that we update our family photos and it has been way too long since our last photo. Our boys have grown so much and I love showing them off to family and friends as well as capturing their cute little looks so I can look back on them down the road. With specials as great as the one jcpportraits is offering why wouldn’t I get photos done more often!?

For more information and to find a jcpportraits studio near you visit jcpportraits website.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney Portrait Studio. I was asked to create a Pinterest Board and pin at least five (5) pins. I give jcpenney the right to repin any or all images/original content from this board. I received a promotional item as a thanks for my participation.”