Family Portraits When You’re on Vacation
Coming down from the cold chills of the northeast, this lovely family reached out to me via Thumbtack requesting a quick 30-minute photoshoot to celebrate the newest member of their family… drumroll please
- a very cute baby girl!
In a way, it also commemorates baby’s first family vacation. They have taken family portraits before with the first born cousin making appearances in the previous years but with the addition to the family, it was time to update the family picture book.
Fun fact! A lot of the family portraits I get booked for are for families on vacation! Planning a photoshoot while you’re on vacation can be tedious and time consuming, from looking for a photographer that’s the right fit to planning the location of the photoshoot, it can all be overwhelming and a little overstimulating - especially when the planner of the family is usually the one already dealing with all the other specific logistics of travel like hotels/airbnbs, rental cars, flight bookings (making sure the entire family gets on the same flight), confirmations, etc.
But that’s where a good photographer and a great photographer differ. A great photographer does the heavy lifting. Often times, we are locals and native to the area you’re traveling to. We also got some experience under our belt which means we come equipped with a couple of locations that we know off the top of our head. We take the time to really drill down the perfect location for you and provide flexible timing to ensure your photoshoot makes it onto the vacation itinerary.
If you want a vacation family portrait, a great photographer will make it happen without you needing to make all the tiny mundane decisions.
I love when mothers absolute radiate this happy glow around their family! Happy mom = happy family.
Now, I know I said these were taken at Hillsboro Lighthouse but that’s not quite right. Although the exact location sits in close proximity to the Hillsboro Lighthouse, it is far away enough where you can get in the focal range of the lighthouse with the ocean by its side. If we get lucky and the right angles hit, we can create the illusion of a beach sunset being that we are located on the east side of Florida so sunset water pictures take a bit of magic to create. This little secluded gem is nestled in the nook of a neighborhood and it was a great location to unlock as a photographer. Definitely adding it to my ‘Best of Pompano Beach’ chronicles.
Why choose the Hillsboro location? This location is a perfect fit for families looking to have more of a beachy, natural, and serene type of photoshoot. Although the actual area is a beach, it is not very crowded as I don’t believe many people know about this little corner. It will make the photoshoot session a lot calmer in nature, less rushed, and minimal pressure. There won’t be too many people around which helps a lot if you’re camera shy or if you’re looking to have a more intimate moment. If the elements cooperate with us on photoshoot day, this location evokes a very pleasant experience.
What time is best? This largely depends on the client’s taste but as a photographer I will always recommend golden hour or sunrise. Not only do these two times produce the best and softest looking light but due to the Florida heat, these times are probably the most bearable in terms of weather. No squinting, no glare, no sweat, and low humidity levels meaning less frizzy hair. If it can’t be helped then day shoots are good too, but would not recommend an outdoor photoshoot location like this one during peak sun hours like midday, much less a beach. I would advocate strongly for an indoor location or studio photoshoot. Night shoots can be done as well but are often more expensive due to the requirement of additional equipment such as strong strobe lighting. Night shoots can be fun but don’t think I’d recommend as much for family portraits. Would be nicer as a creative couple shoot.
What should I wear?! Anything you want! I often see photographers being nitpicky about the clothes their clients wear but in all honesty, the family portraits I love the most are the ones where the families are a bit mismatched. Often times, they appear that way because everyone is dressed as they normally would and it reflects their true authentic version! It means they are expressing themselves as they would individually. However, if you would like a few styling tips, I’d suggest checking out my styling guide if you’re going for a more cohesive family portrait style.
Never a dull moment when two baby cousins join forces!