https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:43:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions/page/2#post-2870133 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 22:47:02 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2870133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would anyone else like to share who your photographers are? </p> <p>This is the one I’ll be using when I get around to it!! She’s amazing. <a href="https://instagram.com/stefaniebendt?utm_source=ig_profile_share&#038;igshid=1da0zgz7re12i" rel="nofollow">https://instagram.com/stefaniebendt?utm_source=ig_profile_share&#038;igshid=1da0zgz7re12i</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870132 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 22:44:48 +0000 Mrsbells 2870132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We like nice photos and photography is one our hobbies. We have an SLR camera and a tripod and remote so we basically DIY our family photos </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870131 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 22:07:47 +0000 lady baltimore 2870131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was tempted to vote 1, but ultimately decided that I am more like a 3. I like to have family photos, primarily for documentary purposes, but for me that means making sure that we have someone snap a few shots whenever we are dressed semi-nicely for a holiday. My father and I are both hobby photographers, so between the two of us, we do semi-regular beach &amp; backyard shoots.</p> <p>But, I do not like posed photographs, so they are not something that I print and display in our home. I only had family photos taken at my wedding because my mother insisted on it. She had all of them printed on canvases, and I never even got a 4x6. Just not my jam.</p> <p>I also wouldn't want to relinquish control for editing and culling the photos to someone else. It's the same thing that I hate about wedding dress, bra, and car shopping - I don't want to be shown what someone else thinks I will want, I just want to look at all of the options myself.</p> <p>A family friend photographed LO recently as part of a promotion for her photography business. It was super fun, but also illustrated to me why I am not cut out for being a portrait photography client. I was shocked by how few pictures she took, and kept thinking that she had missed some of what I thought were the cutest moments. Can't wait to see how they turn out, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870115 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:38:58 +0000 irene 2870115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much all for chimming in! Love to read the reasons and thoughts too!</p> <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I totally hear what you are saying! I am in a related field too (graphic design, illustration, and I used to be a stock photographer), and I am the same way! It is easy to take other people's projects but when it comes to YOUR own project, you either don't do it, or it has to be perfect. So for me, I choose to not do it because perfection (or at least close to perfection) requires a lot of work and research! Not to mention DH is the exact same way, if I made him block a time and dress up to go for a shoot, he'd be sulking and saying a lot of things in my ear the whole time.</p> <p>And then, I never like how I look in photos. I hired a photographer 2 times in my life: My wedding, and boudoir when I was younger (I made a book as a gift for DH for his birthday.... those were the before-child days when we had free time). Both times I spent WEEKS to photoshop EVERYTHING myself (I always buy full rights to digital copies), and then I never look at them again! I am OK with me in candid photos (at least subconsciously I know they are free lol), but not when they were done professionally I just can not look at them. I have issues :silly: </p> <p>I do have to say though, after reading everyone's comments maybe I do need to do this at least once before DS grows up....! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870060 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:31:07 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2870060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: well, my answer is pretty weird because I'm a photographer and I am not really that into having family photos done! The only ones we have are from my 2nd daughter's newborn session. I don't like them. The photographer had us on a bed and the posing is just weird. I love the photos she took of baby, but not the family ones. My husband hates having his photo taken, so it's like pulling teeth to talk him into it.<br /> That all being said, I paid a deposit to my favorite local photographer last year, to do photos of me and the girls. I have been putting it off ever since because I haven't figured out our outfits. So, silly! Like I'll care about that when I look back in 20 years. But, I guess I just know how I want them to look and I'm being very picky. I need to hurry up before the girls are graduating high school. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870058 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:23:02 +0000 JCCovi 2870058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I choose 8, we do a full session every year but I don’t go crazy with all new outfits. I do try to coordinate though and we always choose a good photographer (we don’t try to save money here) and a nice location. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870042 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 10:37:58 +0000 lindseykaye 2870042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I picked 4 but I'm sure the scale is different for everyone! </p> <p>Every couple years we will have a friend who is a photographer do photos for us. He did maternity photos with both my pregnancies, a christmas card one year, and then he took casual family pics at the park. We also did a newborn session for my first with a pro (but not our second woops).<br /> We may do a photoshoot for the new baby sometime this year either with another pro or with our friend to make up for the lack of newborn session. Otherwise we take photos candidly and sometimes get a good one if a family member or friend takes some of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870039 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 10:26:50 +0000 smuckers 2870039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 7. We do a mini session with the same (ah-mazing) photographer each year. I don't need a TON of nice photos, but I feel like it's a gift for my kid(s) to have a nice family photo every year. I buy coordinating outfits each year (something comfortable for my DH, cute for DD, and presentable for me), and use the photos on our Christmas card. </p> <p>It's important enough to me that it's my Christmas present each year from DH (that is, the outfits + the shoot + the cost of cards/stamps). I have promised DH, though, that once all of our kids are old enough to understand "Stand still, look at the camera, and smile nicely" that I'll use my DLSR and we'll take our own pictures (luckily I have at least 3+ years before that's something I need to think about). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870038 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 10:25:43 +0000 crazydoglady 2870038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like a 5? We have newborn sessions for each kid, a family session when DS was 4 months old, and hospital pics with DD. I'm thinking about getting some done this spring when the orchards are blooming. I like having professional pictures, but I don't really do much with them. We didn't get them when I was a kid and most of our pics are at soccer games, vacations, birthday parties and I dont feel like I am missing out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870029 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:56:29 +0000 Littlebit7 2870029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a very good hobbyist photographer. I occasionally take family pics for close friends for their holiday cards but not often (because I put an insane amount of pressure on myself and that’s not enjoyable). Anyway, I take all pics of our family so I’m never in them, much like previous posters. So every year, I drop a boat load on professional photos taken by our wedding photog. They are photojournalistic, unposed, outdoor/indoor at our family farm. They are expensive but I 100% treasure them and I’d pay double for them, if I’m being honest. Everyone gets a calendar for Xmas and I rotate framed prints in our house and they bring me immeasurable joy every time I walk past </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870021 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:36:53 +0000 Mommy Finger 2870021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, we had exactly one professional picture done as a family and it was when I was in kindergarten. I wish we had done more. So I do a mini session each fall. It costs me about $100 and I always have beautiful fall colors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870020 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:35:30 +0000 josina 2870020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 8 but could be a 7... I'd love to take family photos every year, but it's turning out to be more like 1-1/2 to 2 years. We last took professional photos September 2017, and I'm hoping to schedule a shoot this summer. We love our photographer and she is only $100/1 hour session with digitals.<br /> I don't buy new outfits usually, just try to coordinate with what we already have, no professional hair or make-up - I'd rather have them look 'real' anyways.<br /> I'm also a hobby photographer, and I take photos for friends/family; so I take my own of just the kids twice a year, and of the kids individually often. I'd love to set up a tripod and take our own but seems like it'd be impossible with 2 littles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870009 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:59:44 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2870009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m going with a 7, but I treat it like a 2. :silly: I’ve only ever booked one session and although I’m glad I did it didn’t go as planned. For instance DH was not feeling a hired photog and me worrying about his comfort is all over my face. I didn’t get any great mom and LO captures, but every once in a while DH busts out a new/ forgotten gym on FB. My goal was to get 5 great photos that I would frame and display on the wall- as in nail on the wall. They had to be great because I actually don’t really like photos on the wall. I came away with one that I professionally framed and is on the foyer table and few others I liked enough to print from Walgreens and display. Now that LO is so much older and bigger it’s time to capture this moment in time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870006 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:48:41 +0000 Anagram 2870006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I voted a 5. My husband and I are sort of hobby photographers and I'm a big admirer of certain family/child photographers and I follow some groups to get extra tips.</p> <p>But as far as hiring an actual photographer, we've only done it twice--once for a Newborn session for DD1, and once for a mini session for both girls. We did DD2's newborn photos ourselves and the past 2 years we've done a small family session ourselves to make Christmas cards, and I think they've turned out pretty well.</p> <p>But the reason we don't hire professionals more often is we are just frugal people and expensive family photography is a luxury. I know just enough about photography to only want the best photographers, which would be too expensive for our budget because we won't put photography above other (in my mind, way way way more important) priorities like college funds for kids, health insurance, rainy day savings, 401k, etc.</p> <p>Anyway, if we ever find ourselves in a position where our house is paid off, our 401ks maxed out, our kids' college funds fully funded, we have a rainy day fund and we're budgeting in 1-2 decent family vacations a year and we stll have a lot of money left over, then family photography might be one of the categories I would splurge in (along with my other interests, like home decor and designer purses, lol). But I don't see that happening any time super soon, so we'll continue taking our own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870005 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:46:46 +0000 Ajsmommy 2870005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 8. We get yearly family photos. They are important to me. I do plan the outfits and the locations. I use them for Christmas cards and larger prints to display in our home.</p> <p>For me I love to see how my kids have grown and changed over the years.. and I also love having some photos that have me in them.. that aren't selfies and that I dont' look like total crap :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870004 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:42:13 +0000 looch 2870004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is important for me to have these pictures for my son. He really seems to love the idea of all of us in a picture and I want to make sure that he has these physical objects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2870003 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:38:04 +0000 skinnycow 2870003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 8. We do a family photo session at least once a year (usually in the fall) as well as documenting special milestones like maternity, newborn, one-year, etc.</p> <p>I like having nice pictures. I have a ton of pictures of my daughter on my phone but I want nicer ones to look back on one day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869998 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 07:43:08 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2869998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It became important to me once we found a photographer whose style I really like. We don’t do them often but maybe once a year to 18 months we try. We did newborn with DS1 which was ok but very posey, then we did a mini Christmas session which was ok, then the following spring/summer we found the person we will use as long as she stays in business! Very casual and not posed and I love seeing nice photos of our life. We usually get 1 or 2 nice family photos and then a bunch of candids. The other reason I like it is that the grandparents and great grandparents LOVE the photos and we give them as gifts at Christmas. I would vote a 7 or 8 but don’t feel guilty if it’s not your thing! We definitely do not go all out with outfits and hair or makeup. I try to coordinate outfits but it’s never looked matchy, and DW and I don’t wear makeup because we don’t IRL and we just do our hair the same as always. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869997 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 06:02:54 +0000 Adira 2869997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having family photos is important to me, but not to the extent of actually hiring a photographer, haha. I usually setup my tripod and put my camera on a timer to get a picture of my family at least once a year (usually at Christmas), and I'll pass my camera to people to take pictures of us occasionally. I'd love professional photos, but I know my husband wouldn't be interested and I think I've gotten some decent photos on our own, so it's not really worth it to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869994 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:24:15 +0000 lamariniere 2869994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: this is me. I take all the family photos. </p> <p>My kids are 8 and 5 and we’ve never done any pro pics. We didn’t even get pro pics we got married, granted, we basically eloped. We also don’t have any family photos displayed at home. But I have nothing against them and love seeing other people’s photo shoots. It’s just not something we do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869992 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 02:09:20 +0000 Hypatia 2869992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 9. I take lots of great candid photos, but I’m usually not in them, so it’s nice to have someone else taking them. Our photographer has a very relaxed and natural style, so they don’t look really posed. </p> <p>We get pictures done every fall for $300. It’s the biggest “extra” expense we have, aside from vacation money. But it is worth every penny. I truly believe that our children will treasure these photos for many years to come. </p> <p>With that said, I am very glad it only comes once a year. The stress is unreal. Last year, my toddler spent most of her time running away from the photographer and eating dirt—but the pictures still came out great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869990 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 01:58:41 +0000 JJ2626 2869990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 1 but it would be less than 1. I think professional photos looks weird and silly especially with matching outfits or gimmicks like a baby in a basket. I just don’t get it and wouldn’t want to look at those in my house. I like photos of real life even if they aren’t perfect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869987 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:39:36 +0000 katsupgirl 2869987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted a 10. I love getting professional pics done! I’m not great at taking pics myself. I do twice a year based on when the kids have birthdays. I don’t go crazy over outfits but I will buy new stuff sometimes. I usually make gifts for the grandparents and/or canvas prints. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869983 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 23:39:16 +0000 ALV91711 2869983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put 7. I love to have nice photos done but this isn’t yearly. We had some done in December when baby was 3 months and the last time we had family photos was 3 years ago when DS1 was 2. I’ll probably get some done this summer of just the kids when we are away. I want to try for family photos every other year. </p> <p>I don’t buy outfits or pay for hair/make up. This last time I chose the boys outfits first and then we picked out outfits to not clash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869981 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 23:12:31 +0000 MamaBear87 2869981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I do a lot of hunting in our local mom fb groups and neighborhood fb groups. Those places are usually great for recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869979 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:51:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2869979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBear87: you are probably better at selecting than me. I have tried that way and never found someone whose style really appealed to me that was starting out. Need to know better ways to look! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869978 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:44:29 +0000 MamaBear87 2869978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I've actually been really happy with all the photographers I've chosen. I tend to look for someone starting out who's style I love so we usually end up with great photos. I dabble myself so usually can pick up on whether they know what they're doing or not.<br /> I really want to do some beach photos with our wedding photographer this October but he's gotten pretty pricey and making the timing work out usually fails.<br /> But I totally agree sometimes it's better to spend a bit morc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869977 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:41:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2869977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like having some nice family pictures and it’s sort of important to me- I gave myself a 7. I don’t do it every year but I’m aiming for maybe every other or every 3 years. I tell myself I won’t go crazy about outfits but I definitely spend too much time thinking about them. I definitely plan timing more around kids mood than best lighting though. The pictures we did this past fall came out so well and make me so happy to look at. It’s mostly candid (though not totally since of course we were aware of the camera and I wanted my kids to look cute) and she got a few beautiful ones including one where all four of us are looking at the camera and smiling naturally- a true miracle. But it’s expensive so i won’t do it every year. And definitely i don’t get my hair and makeup done. I have bought new clothes for them but continue to wear them after so it isn’t only for the photos. </p> <p>@MamaBear87: I’m a little bit the opposite- I feel like if I’m going to spend the time and effort and still a decent amount of money, I’d rather pay a little more for someone I love. I have done cheaper ones in the past and the pictures were just fine. The two times I felt like I splurged I did love the photos. (Splurge being like 300-400, not like $1000). And that’s why I’d rather do it every few years instead. </p> <p>I also put together a big photo book every year, mostly just my iPhone pictures, but it takes a long time and ends up costing like $70, but I cherish it. And my kids will look through them and point out pictures and what they are doing in different pictures and it makes me so happy. Obviously the photos are the quality of a professional but they are just as important to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869976 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:14:01 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2869976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friend is a photographer and charges about $175 for a mini session. We typically do her Christmas mini session and a summer one. I love taking pics of my kids and being in pics... but I am basically never in them unless we pay for them. My husband sucks at grabbing his phone and taking a couple candid shots. </p> <p>I used to pay for her to do a mini session on the kids birthdays, but now I have three kids so I typically take them myself and we do the mini sessions twice a year. Maybe an extra if she has a new one I want to try.</p> <p>We’ve also done newborn sessions for all three (ages 4.8, 2.5 and 7 months). </p> <p>ETA: outfits - I usually just grab from what we have a few days in advance and get my friends opinions. The Christmas ones we just did I got my daughter a new dress (old navy) which she has worn a bunch, the baby a new romper which he’s worn a few times and my son a sweater which he only has worn (so far) for the pics. My husband and I wore clothes we already had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-photography-sessions#post-2869975 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 21:56:53 +0000 DesertDreams88 2869975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I schedule them once a year in the Fall. I either get my brother to do it or a fellow teacher in the district. I schedule about 6-8 weeks in advance for a Saturday, and get it on the calendar. I don't plan outfits until the week before, and I haven't bought any clothes for it - we just wear outfits that coordinate based on what we have. The photos go in our yearly photo album and I printed them for Mother's Day or Christmas as gifts to myself. I have 8 various-sized frames that I use for the photos each year, keeping the old ones in and layering the new ones on top. It's all decently simple.</p> <p>The kids end up being very candid so I love seeing their true personalities shine like that. We just interact with them the way we normally do, so it doesn't feel forced or anything. They're one of the few sets of photos that I'm actually in, so I'll continue them. I wish I had more pics of my mom and dad in the early years of childhood. </p>