8 tips for a family photography session in Bora Bora

“We didn’t know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun”

One of the most common phrases we hear from parents is “We’ve been meaning to book a family session for so long and just never seemed to get around to doing it” or “We don’t have any picture of all of us together.”

Well, why don’t you use Bora Bora as the perfect playground and backdrop for your family pictures?

If you have small kids and you are a little bit nervous because you think it is going to be chaotic or stressful, let us take all the stress from the photoshoot and capture the beauty of your family in its glory and its chaos. Let us show you how beautiful your family is!

Our families sessions are fun and laid-back! There is lots of love, snuggles and joy. As parents of two toddlers, this is exactly the type of session we would choose for our family.

Most of the time you don’t have to look at the camera because we want to capture the love between you and your family. When you look at the pictures they will feel like deep, loving memories of your stay in Bora Bora.

If you are thinking about a family photography session in Bora Bora and you want to get ultimately gorgeous, candid  family images that you will treasure for a lifetime, read the next 8 tips:

1. Choose the right clothing

Have your clothing chosen in advance and make sure that your outfit choices are comfortable and attractive.

What do your dream family photos look like?  If they are soft and elegant?  Choose neutral colors with soft, flowing fabrics…. think creams, very soft pastels, oatmeals, light browns, tans, grays, and slate blues.

Want to showcase the fun and spunky side of your family?  Choose coordinating colors (but not matchy matchy) with bold accent colors, such as hues of gray with yellow or bright red accents.  

Tip- Adding fun accessories like flowers crowns, leis, sunglasses, hats, etc. can add a modern polynesian twist and sassy flair to your images.

For more tips and ideas click here:

What should I wear for a photoshoot in Bora Bora

2. Well rested and well fed

Try not to schedule your family photography session in Bora around your child’s nap. Don’t show up to a photo shoot on an empty stomach. Many families come to a photo session with dinner scheduled at the end.  If this is your plan, be sure to give everyone a healthy snack before the photo shoot.

3. Leave some time to get ready for your family photography session

I always encourage mothers, if it’s possible, to have their hair and makeup professionally done before the shooting .  Is a way to pamper them and also making them feel even more pretty and confident.  Leave plenty of time for showers, baths, dressing, and grooming.  

4. Choose the right time of the day

The best time for lighting is early in the morning and late in the afternoon, around the sunset. If your little ones have sensitive eyes, I’d recommend the afternoon. The most important is to avoid the strong heat of mid-day.

To help you to choose between morning or afternoon pictures click here:

Best time for a photoshoot in Bora Bora

5. Natural emotions

More and more the approach to family photography is changing. The old studio photos with forced smiles are being replaced by a new lifestyle, documental style of photography. It’s about capturing organic, candid and natural moments. 

In our family sessions, half the time it’s about making jokes and playing around. If you try too hard to pose younger children you’re fighting an uphill battle so let’s keep it lighthearted and fun

 This will result in natural, gorgeous smiles!

6. Have fun with your family in Bora during the photography session

Don’t be afraid to pick up your children and toss them in the air. Give your wife a sweet kiss on the cheek or in the neck. Have fun. Laugh. Giggle. Joke. Embrace. Kiss. Snuggle. Play. Doing these things will allow me to capture the emotion and true beauty of your family. 

Tip : Finishing the shooting in the water helps the kids to relax and helps to capture the most candid moments. Bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and let me know if you want me to bring my over-under water equipment. Over-under photography is included in all our packages with no additional cost. We can’t resist the water in Bora Bora!

7. NOT everyone has to be looking and smiling at the camera at the same time

The best photographs are often the ones where everyone is engaged or interacting with each other. Understand that not every picture needs to have everyone looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. If you are engaged as a family and loving on each other, your eyes will be on your family members and your smile with be natural. These are the photographs that you will cherish most because they depict your family connection and your love.

8. Have realistic expectations

Being a father and a photographer has shown me to  lower my expectations about having the perfect picture. At the beginning, I was trying to get master pieces with my daughters, Maeva and Maimiti. With the time, I am taking more the lyfestyle, documentary approach, respecting their rhythm and taking more natural candid pictures without forcing them to pose or smile, just letting them play 🙂

Tip : Let us know in advance if you have small kids and need an extra pair of hands. Whenever it’s possible, I love to bring my wife to all the family sessions, she is a great photographer and helps me to connect with the kids and get those genuine smiles, making the session totally stress-free!

If you want to know more about different family photography styles to choose the one that best suits you and your family, read the next post :

https://www.damiengobron.com/best-photographic-style-for-your-pictures/

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