Question: My family photos feel the same every year, what am I doing wrong? 

Answer:Honestly? Nothing! You’re doing nothing wrong if your family photos feel the same – sometimes, it’s actually really cool to capture your family in the same environment year after year, so you can focus on how they’ve changed!

Family photos should be a regular activity

I know life gets busy. My life gets busy, I’ve got two neurodivergent kiddos bouncing off the walls – if there’s anyone who understands the whirlwind, it’s me, Mama. Truly. But when it comes to prioritizing administrative junk in the middle of it all, booking photo sessions with a professional really isn’t something you can let slide into the background.

Whether you want to think about it or not, your kiddos aren’t going to stay kiddos forever! So documenting all those little quirks they’ve got at 7 will only work while they’re still 7. They grow, and grow, like little weeds, and it’s bonkers trying to keep up with documenting it.

I recommend putting your family on a family-photo-schedule!

And that’s why I honestly recommend putting your family on a schedule for your family photos. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a full session each summer, or a mini session each fall. It could even be a regular santa session here in Minneapolis every year, until your kiddos outgrow it! But a schedule has to happen, not just so that your kids get used to the routine (especially if they’re neurodivergent in any way) but also so that you can kind of hold yourself accountable to making sure you’ve got photos of your kids that you’re also in.

Because all of those photos on your phone? They’ve got something in common. You’re not in them.

But if your photos start feeling too sam-ey….

Now you might be thinking that if you have a holiday mini session every year, or you have a santa session every year, or even if you have a full family session in a Minneapolis park every July, your photos might start looking a bit… cloned. Like you clicked copy then paste and just popped the same people into the same frame, a year later. Or you stood in one spot and held “fast forward”. You’re getting the image, right?

Here’s the thing though – the photos you get from a session feeling too “samey” isn’t real. Because the focus of your images isn’t what’s AROUND you, (unless they’re brand photos, which are a different story altogether) the focus is YOU. So in reality, capturing photos in the same environment year on year is actually a PLUS, not a problem. It means you’ll be able to see the changes your family has gone through over time even more clearly. And as a bonus, they’ll also look amazing on the wall together! It’s a win win, and you know how much I love those!

When it comes to images you’ve GOT to snap…

Whether you’re booking the same location for your photoshoot, or you scatter them throughout the year with different sets and locations every time, there are some specific images you should always make sure are included in your session, so that you come away with photos that hold real memories!

1 – Everyone together!

The first type of image you want to make sure you get in your session, is one of everyone together, posed and vaguely cheesy. I say “vaguely cheesy” because let’s be honest, this is the most predictable photo ever. You’ll sit on a bench, a fountain – stand in front of some gorgeous greenery, or even in your photographers’ studio, if you’re having an in-studio session. Your photographer (hopefully me!) will say “smile!” or make a silly joke, and then snap away. But even though it’s the classic you expect to come away from every photo session with, you’ve GOT to make sure it’s included. You’ll miss it, if it’s not!!

2 – Individual portraits

Every time you have a family photo session, you should make sure that there are individual photos of everyone there – if it’s an extended family session, that might be a lot! But it should be worked into the session, because having updated photos of each of your favorite people isn’t something you can miss out on. Whether they’re posed, or fun, depends on your vibe! But they should happen all the same.

3 – The “Hug” photo

Then we get into the less formal items – because being a part of your family isn’t about being stiff and posed. I mean to be fair the individual portraits and images of you all together shouldn’t be stiff either, but that’s not the point. There should definitely be at least one hug included in your session, so make sure you get cozy together at some point in your time with your photographer! Capturing emotion is where it’s at, and at the end of the day, family photos are about love. So love should be documented!

4 – The “Fun” photo

Of course, no family photo session would be complete without some fun. That’s going to look different depending on the session type you go for – if you’re in your home, maybe there’s a board game involved! Maybe you bring props to the studio, or everyone comes prepared with silly glasses to put on for a photo or two. Maybe, it’s just goofy faces. Or maybe, furry-family members are involved! But no matter what, there should be images in your family photo session of you all having a good time!

5 – Your family in motion

Finally, you should make sure that every year, you capture your family in motion. Now, that doesn’t always mean photos specifically, either! Some photographers, Jessica Strobel Photography included, offer add ons for video clips during your photo session. And honestly, while I totally get that it might feel unnecessary, it’s SUCH a magical addition to your family memories! So whether the motion is captured in photos or in actual video… make sure your favorite people are captured in motion.

Need to get family photography here in Minneapolis on your calendar?

If it’s time to update all of these kinds of images of your favorite people, it might be time for us to have a conversation! I would be honored to capture your family being who you really are – not just staged smiles, real, genuine, authentic love, snapped in a moment in time. So whether you’re looking for a mini session that gets those updates made in the quickest way possible, or you want to devote a full session to your family being your badass selves, we can get you on the calendar and make it happen!