No photographer for your child’s Easter photos this year? No problem – just do it yourself! And hop to it! Whether you’ll be capturing shots with your digital SLR camera or your smart phone, following these tips can help your Easter photos turn out beautifully.
Location, Location, Location:
Traditionally, green fields with or without wildflowers make for beautiful Easter photos. Our favorite grassy field for photos is Rob Fleming Park. It’s hard to get the timing just right, but depending on when you go, the lawn might greet you with abundant bluebonnets! The stone architecture of the lodge can also serve as a gorgeous photo backdrop. Parks with bridges (like Tupelo Park in the Village of Creekside Park) and hills (such as Terramont Park in the Village of Sterling Ridge) can also be attractive options. We also can't get enough of the meticulously-manicured shores of The Woodlands Waterway.
Be creative. Do you have an intimate area in your own front or backyard that you can use? And although we recommend outdoor photos, consider indoor photo shoots of your child eating a chocolate bunny, decorating Easter cupcakes, and even coloring Easter eggs.
Choose an ideal time:
If you’re taking outdoor photos, avoid the afternoon hours when the sun is straight overhead, likely creating unwanted shadows. If possible, we recommend going out early in the morning or at dusk - (two times that seems to be the most difficult to get kids to cooperate, we know!) Plan ahead and bring along a bag of tricks to keep your child compliant.
Snazz it up:
When it comes to dressing your child for Easter/spring photos, you really want to get things right. Save the red and black dresses for another occasion. It’s spring time, and lighter colors make the best Easter ensembles for kids. Pretty pastel Easter dresses with bows, white gloves, and bonnets or flower crowns are precious options for girls. Spring suits with ties or vests are ideal for boys. Don't want to get too fancy? Cute and casual works well too. Drop in at Carter's in the Shenondoah Portofino to create an ensemble like this one:
Props? Yes please!
Yep, sometimes props are cheesy, but using them for Easter photos can make all the difference. Consider letting your child:
- Sit in a basket.
- Wear bunny ears for some of the shots.
- Hold an Easter basket of colorful plastic eggs (with eggs also in the grass / photo background).
- Clutch a handful of flowers.
- Play with a live bunny rabbit or chick..
- Pose with a favorite stuffed animal. Toy chicks, bunnies, and lambs are perfect!
Have time:
Don’t try to squeeze in the photo shoot when you have only a few minutes to dedicate to it. Choose a day when you won’t be rushing, and give your child a chance to get comfortable at the location. Let him play and run around for a while. Or sit and read a book. During this time, take photos, even if they are not the ones you’re planning to use. You might be surprise what shots you’ll capture that end up being perfect.
Take a whole lotta photos:
The more photos you take, the better chance of you coming home with some shots that you really really really love. Trust us, you don’t want to have to go through this a second time!
