Never work with animals or children, we've all heard the joke!

If you've ever planned a family photoshoot, gotten yourself and your family nicely dressed and driven somewhere photogenic, you'll know the hard part is getting your kids to stay still for half a second and flash their beautiful smiles. It can be a battle to say the least!

But with Christmas coming up we're going to once again attempt to get one nice family shot! We asked seasoned photographer Jessica Tremp for some practical pointers.

Jessica is a photographer based in the Macedon Ranges we've worked with a number of times - we love the mood of her work.

As you can see from these stunning photos Jessica's work captures the intimacy, love and raw romance of domestic life.

She has very kindly put together a list of practical advice for photographing your beautiful family.

Thanks Jess! 

 1. Interact

I love photographs where there is some interaction. Not all photos need to have everyone staring at the camera (though there’s nothing wrong with that either).

An image where you are all smiling at each other might make you feel much warmer when looking back on it years down the track.

2. Clothing - don’t make your T-shirt the main attraction

I recommend wearing neutral colours and avoid big logos or prints that will stand out and take attention away from the faces, interactions and people in the frame, unless of course you’re deliberately going for bright and colourful, in which case maybe think about adding in a bold coloured background/wall to match.

3. Allow kids to be kids

If one of them is more interested in investigating something they’ve found on the ground, follow along.

Let them run around and be crazy if they need to and document the chaos. It’s real and genuine and will make the experience more fun for them which might shine through in the results.

You might also get their attention more easily this way to add in a couple of poses here and there you want to try out.

4. Notice the light

Photography is all about the light. There’s not necessarily ‘bad’ light, just different light. 

Notice how a bright, sunny day will make shadows feel much harsher and contrast is exaggerated. Perhaps try and find some shady spots in this situation and be careful not to have your subject(s) squinting straight into the sun. 

Close to sunset makes things feel gentler, golden and a dark room might add mood or stillness. You can make all of these things work to your advantage by playing around a little.

5. Equipment

You absolutely don’t need big or fancy cameras to take great images. Mobile phones have very capable cameras built in these days.

I believe you can take a great photo on just about any camera, especially if you play to its strength. For instance, a simple polaroid can give you a feeling of nostalgia and of course, tactility. 

6. It doesn’t have to be perfect

If you’re photographing children and one of them is crying, maybe the most beautiful photo will be to capture this truth rather than having them all smile at you and forcing a sentiment that wasn’t necessarily there.

If you’ve captured an incredible moment, it doesn’t matter if it’s blurry or the colours feel a bit off. Instead, perhaps you’ve nailed the perfect timing or the perfect mood. This can be much more special than having ticked all of the technical boxes.

Thank you so much Jessica!

For more of Jessica's work, bookings, email, and instagram