Planning your Family Photos is a Lot!

When you’re setting up a family photo session, even though I make things super easy here at Jessica Strobel Photography, there’s still a lot to think about. Making sure it’s at a good time for your little ones to be their best selves (AKA not overtired), putting together the wardrobe choices for all your people… Even getting the location nailed down (if we’re not meeting here in the studio!) can sometimes feel overwhelming.

And that means that adding in another choice to the mix… well, it can feel like a lot. Especially if it’s for something extra!

Adding Video is a New Option!

And video add-ons for family photo sessions are definitely an extra option that’s worth considering, even though it does add a bit more of that invisible, extra labor to your photography session planning process. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I think adding video is a huge win – but if you’re not sure, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you figure out whether it’s a yay or a nay for you and your family!

What to think about before adding Video to your Family Session

1 – Do your little ones move around a lot?

The first question I recommend asking yourself when you’re deciding to add video to your family photo session, is whether your little ones move around a ton! Every kiddo is different – some are super active. Some are super calm. Some like exploring new places, and some are more reserved. If your kiddos are neurodivergent, then they might have their own entirely unique way of engaging with new environments, and that’s super cool too! (And it goes without mentioning, VERY welcome here in the studio!)

Now, having a kiddo who falls into the “calm” or “reserved” categories doesn’t mean that adding video isn’t a good plan for you, or that it isn’t valuable. And in fact, sometimes it means it’s even MORE vital for you to capture video of your little ones! But that’s a totally individual thing, that you’ll have to think about at your end. When it comes to those who ARE on the move all the time though… video? It’s ALWAYS a good plan. You get to look back on those chaotic moments of exploration, the hug between siblings – in real time, not paused in time. And that? That’s magic, right there.

2 – Do you have video of you with your kids?

The next question to ask yourself, is whether you have videos with your kids. Notice I didn’t say video OF your kids, here, because that’s a totally different thing. All of us parents have video of our kiddos doing things – something silly, something fun, just existing – I mean, we’ve got cameras in our pockets all the time. But that’s very, very different from having video of you WITH your kids. And if you’re taking video at home, it’s likely that you’re behind the camera, not in front of it, WITH them.

Adding video onto your family photo session is an incredible way to make that kind of video happen without a ton of extra things involved! You don’t have to set up a tripod in your livingroom and capture yourself, we take care of the tech side for you here in the studio, so that you get to see yourself with your little ones. You get to see the way you look at your son, and the way you pick up your toddler. Which is, again, absolute magic!

3 – How many family members are going to be at your session?

Last but certainly not least, ask yourself about how many family members are going to be at your session. Now, this question isn’t a straight “yes or no” for whether adding video is a good idea for you, it’s more of a “this contributes to the decision” kind of question. That’s because if you’re going to have a ton of family in town and that’s why you’ve scheduled a session, depending on what that looks like for you, it might mean it’s a GREAT idea to add video, or it might mean maybe you skip it on this session and wait for the next one.

If your upcoming session has extended family involved – do you want to have video captured of those family members with your kids? Or with you? Or all of the above? If it doesn’t – do you want to wait until a session where you’ll be able to capture video of more of your family together? So consider how much of your family is going to be present, and let that play into your decision, whatever that means for you.

Adding video is a big decision, but it’s usually a good one!

Deciding to add video to your family session might feel like a big choice to make, especially since it’s not really a standard offering at photography studios. But usually, when you add it… it’s a good decision to have made! And, here at Jessica Strobel Photography, it’s as easy as asking. We add a note onto your session, and take care of the rest! So, does it sound like something you want worked into your next family session? If so… let us know! We’ll work with you to make magic happen here in the studio, or wherever it is we’ll be capturing your magical memories.