https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:42:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356422 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:49:59 +0000 rachiecakes 356422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: thanks! he's a pretty animated kid, I can see the annoyance on his face in the family one, haha.. other than that I don't think it's terrible but I wanted my smiley baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356417 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:49:05 +0000 rachiecakes 356417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: generally I do, too.. but I wanted that classic studio portrait of the three of us for the grandparents, etc. I'm not really an outdoorsy person, though I love seasonal photos - fall leaves, beach photos, pumpkin patch, snow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356374 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:37:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 356374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: Oh my gosh! That one is seriously cute! I didn't think the family one was that bad, but this one is so cute now I see why you thought it didn't do him justice! @HeatherlovesKenny: Too funny that they photoshopped another photo of your husband in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356372 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:36:52 +0000 Mrs. Pen 356372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this may be partly why I prefer non studio pics better. A professional photographer generally has a ton of experience with children and know how to make them smile. Also, when pictures are at a park, in a field, etc kids feel more like themselves rather than being forced to pose.</p> <p>May be just me but I really like "life" shots and its definitely a lot easier to catch pics of happy children when they are given the freedom to be themselves.</p> <p>Sorry they didn't turn out!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356348 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:31:23 +0000 rachiecakes 356348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>the ones of DS alone were much better - looks like we'll be using one of these for the Christmas card instead </p> [attach=1845/12/mcczgc.278x320.babyj.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356276 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:02:17 +0000 HLK208 356276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: you all look great!</p> <p>I usually schedule mini sessions with good pro photographers (less expensive). They do great touch ups. DH has problems smiling for pictures so our photographer cropped his head on a good photo of us and replaced it with a photo of him smiling! No one could tell. We've done a lot of family shoots so I just make sure everyone is fed, napped and has nice hair and outfits. I also put more powder on ahead of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356259 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:57:45 +0000 heffalump 356259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a hard one! I'm not even going for pro photos, I figured ill try to get a family picture every chance I can and one of them has to be holiday card worthy. Wrong! It doesn't help that I want the dog in the picture too though. How to keep a dog and baby happy in a picture ...... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356249 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:52:31 +0000 rachiecakes 356249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: thank you - and, haha no worries! ;) my kid's just a maniac, hehe </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-356215 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:41:56 +0000 twinmama 356215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: oh funny! sorry, bad advice from a newbie :) you look beautiful though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355637 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:08:16 +0000 rachiecakes 355637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>here's an example -<br /> this is the best shot.. awkward much? DS is like, "get me outta here!!"<br /> (photo from picture people, obviously) </p> [attach=1845/12/mccq1s.266x400.family_yikes.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355633 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:06:03 +0000 rachiecakes 355633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: funny - DS was fine in the pictures of just him, but HATED us holding him, haha. I do wish they had taken more so we would have more to choose from. </p> <p>@mrbee: hahaha if only photoshop could change a crabby-faced baby into a smiling one ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355618 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:01:18 +0000 T.H.O.U. 355618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Are you practicing up your skills to fix bad family portraits! I've seen some crazy photoshop stuff to fix things like a finger in a kids mouth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355615 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:43 +0000 T.H.O.U. 355615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With a chain, I think the biggest thing is to ask for more shots/poses if you aren't happy. I have had to push the session a bit longer when we wanted more poses or outfit changes but they deal with it. </p> <p>One time they had this plastic column type thing and she had little one straddle it and sit on it. It was a very weird pose and I had to speak up and say that it looked funny and we should just move on to another pose/position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355608 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:59:14 +0000 mrbee 355608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Photoshop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355605 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:58:36 +0000 twinmama 355605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't done any pro photos yet, so I'm interested in this too! </p> <p>The main thing I can think of is to try to time the session to a good time of day for the kid(s), if you can. Regardless of their specific nap schedule, which can vary day to day, they are generally much happier in the morning or even lunchtime, so for us, I'd try to schedule then. We honestly don't even try to take the kids anywhere in the evening! </p> <p>Other ideas? </p> <p>Make sure their outfit is comfortable for them - if a collar, socks, hat bugs them, they'll be crankier faster. </p> <p>Take more photos together (vs just baby alone). I know my kids are sometimes 'done' sooner when I'm just taking pics of them alone. If someone is holding/snuggling/playing with them, they'll be happier longer. And starting with some whole family pics might help set the stage and make the kids more comfortable with the whole situation before they're photo'ed alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-a-better-family-photo#post-355457 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:45:51 +0000 rachiecakes 355457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last night DH and I took DS to a portrait studio to get a family photo. I stressed for two weeks over outfits, getting my nails done, props (my father's baby quilt that was passed down), my makeup, etc.<br /> I didn't have high expectations, it was a chain portrait studio. All I was hoping for was a decent photo of the three of us for a Christmas card. I wanted a studio/indoor portrait.<br /> There were only two shots of the three of us, they were hideous. DS was tired and started crying and sucking his thumb.<br /> Ugh. </p> <p>What do you do to get a better photo with a baby? Any tricks that I don't know of? How do you keep a LO happy? </p>