Published: 9/23/2020

By: Maryann Loya

This time of year the weather starts to cool down in Arizona as the holidays rapidly approach. With the holidays comes time for planning family gatherings, meals and photos. Families across the United States often use the holidays as an excuse to get new pictures and update their friends and extended family about the big life events, stories and accomplishments that happened during the year. For many, planning this task can be overwhelming - choosing a photographer, a location, coordinating outfits, etc. - all of which can be daunting.

In order to help make this process smooth and enjoyable for your family, we spoke to family photographer Courtney Sereno with Courtney Sereno Photography. Below are her tips to get a great family photo and she even shared her favorite spot to photograph in Peoria.

Choosing a Photographer
When looking for a photographer, I would say find someone where you can look at their portfolio and really see their work. It is so easy these days to look at a photographer on social media platforms. We put so much of our work on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It is also perfectly fine to be picky. These are images that you are going to hang up in your home, share with family and send as gifts. If you have a large family or young children, you are going to want someone who can make a grumpy child smile or capture a beautiful image of a moody teenager or even a dad who does not really want to be there and would rather be at home watching a football game. You want to ask yourself if the images capture true laughter or are do they appear posed? Also, be sure to choose the editing style you like. Look for something that really captures your eye. If you like the white backdrop and studio look, go with a studio photographer, if you look at a portfolio that has a variety of locations to choose from, go with someone who has several locations to choose from. Be sure to ask yourself, "Would I love that hung in my hallway for years to come?”

Choosing a Location
Location is all in the eye of the beholder. I am so grateful that my clients put their trust in my camera lens and me. To some people, they may see a simple concrete staircase but I see a staircase for a high school senior to pose, symbolizing him/her taking that challenging step into adulthood. A simple road you may travel on daily and never notice much about it but I see the wild sunflowers that a beautiful child can pick for a picture. It is all about using what is around you. Sometimes the location does not have to be a particularly unique place, but a small place with a breathtaking view, plant life, etc. This Arizona girl is a sucker for cactus and, of course, those bright fall colors. If I can find a tree, a bush or even a field of weeds that are changing colors, I will find a family who needs to be there.

Favorite Peoria Location
My absolute favorite place to shoot in Peoria is Rio Vista Community Park. It offers so many beautiful backdrop options. You can walk along the pathway that follows the New River Wash and take photos in the wash that almost gives you a woodsy type feel while not having to drive outside of town. The changing of seasons captures the vibrant warm colors in cooler months and the bright greens and a little touch of wildflowers in the spring. If a client is also looking for more of an industrial look and less of a natural look, you can utilize the recreational building at the park. They have a beautiful bridge and unique structured walls. It truly has the best of both worlds.

Choosing Coordinating Outfits
When looking for colors or outfits, I always tell my clients to look at Pinterest. If you search “photography color scheme combinations” there are so many to select. My best personal advice is to start with one outfit in your family and pull colors from that item of clothing. For example, you can take a simple plaid shirt that has royal blue, maroon, hunter green and golden rod and pair it with some khaki pants for your toddler boy. Then, put your daughter in a maroon dress and your husband in a royal blue shirt with khaki pants. Lastly, put yourself in a hunter green dress. If you want to dress it down a little, throw some jeans in the mix. Also, if you have anyone wearing heels make sure to bring a comfortable pair of shoes to walk in. Always remember that this is your family and your memories, choose what is beautiful for your family. I would also advise not to break the bank on outfits and clothing for one shoot, check out stores like Old Navy to find clothes that your kids will wear again.

Photo Preparation
The most important part of the preparing for a photo shoot is to make sure everyone is ready to go prior to start time. If a photographer says that the shoot is at 4:30 p.m., get there a little early to allow time to get everyone organized. A large chunk of my photo shoots, close to 80%, are spent chasing the light, which means if the sun is going down, then we are unable to shoot. If there is no sun, there is no photo. I shoot in natural light only so chasing that sunset is so important for me. Make sure everyone’s hair is combed and that dresses, pants and shoes are on when you arrive. Sometimes it is even better to get small children dressed once you arrive at the location to make sure everyone stays clean. I have also learned to bring a “Mary Poppins Bag” where I encourage my clients to put their keys and phones. We do not want to see cellphone rectangles in front or back pockets. This also keeps Dads from checking those football scores and teenagers from checking social media accounts, which makes the shoot go by faster because there are less distractions.

With these tips your family photos will sure to be ones you cherish forever. For more information on Courtney Sereno Photography, visit her Facebook and Instagram pages.