dillsburg family portraits

How Photography Can Boost Your Child’s Confidence & Self-Esteem

Having regular professional portraits taken of your child or your family can seem like it’s not really a big deal. Who cares if you don’t send out a holiday card or update your Facebook profile picture? But in reality, photography can have a huge impact on your children’s self-esteem and how they view their place in the world and your family unit.

A Tulane University study found that children who see photos of themselves have higher self-esteem than children who aren’t exposed to portraits. Having your family photos hanging up in your home can help your children grow into more confident adults.

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Show off what you love
Your home tends to reflect what you value most in life. After all, if we get a new outfit or the latest tech gadget, we can’t wait to show it off. Having the same attitude toward your family photos can reassure your children of how much they’re loved and valued. Let your children know just how important they are by having photos of them displayed prominently throughout your home.

Family photos can show your children that they are an important part of your family and can serve as a reminder that your home is a safe space, no matter what life throws at them. By seeing their place in portraits, they can better understand how they fit into your lives and into the family as a whole.

Strengthen your family bond
In addition to boosting your children’s self-esteem, family portraits can also strengthen the bond of your entire family. It’s the perfect way to demonstrate that you are a unit, a group of people who love and support each other and walk together through life.

Seeing family photos hanging on your wall lets your children know where they come from and who they are. It can help them establish and understand their identity at an early age and move through life with more confidence.

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Print vs. Digital
If you’re like most parents, you probably take cell phone photos of your kids constantly. You may even post them on your social media. But your child doesn’t follow you on Instagram, so they don’t get to see your captions about how much you love them. They have no way of knowing how frequently you share their photos.

Having physical printed portraits hanging on the walls of your home lets your child know every day that they are loved and valued. A photo on the wall is a more sensory experience for your child than images on a phone screen or tablet. Displaying photos in your home lets your child—and everyone—know that you value your family and celebrate everything you have experienced together. It’s a way of demonstrating how important your family memories are to you, which can be comforting to your child.

As parents, we want our children to grow up with self-confidence and self-esteem. We want them to know that they are loved and cared for, no matter what. Photography is one way you can help your children see how important they are to you and your family and help boost their self-esteem as they grow.

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What to Wear to a Family Photo Session (And What to Avoid)

One of the most common questions I get is what to wear to a photo session. Family sessions are especially challenging because you want every member of your family to look good together, but you don’t want everyone to wear the same outfit. Choosing a wardrobe for each person that’s comfortable and complementary can definitely take some work, but it’s not impossible!

To help you out, I’ve put together this handy guide on all the dos and don’ts of dressing your family for a portrait session.

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Opt for neutral colors
While bright colors may be your thing, they don’t work for everyone. If you want your family to match, go for subtle neutral tones that work well together. The neutral look is also more timeless, meaning your photos will still look great years in the future.

Have fun with patterns and layers
Florals, stripes and even plaids are all fun options for mixing and matching with denim and solid colors. You can even add layers to easily give everyone a couple of different looks without worrying about having enough time to change. Trust me, getting multiple kids into different outfits can be a challenge, so having fun jackets or cardigans that everyone can put on or take off is a much simpler way to add variety to your images.

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Make sure your clothes fit
A fitted outfit also looks better than a loose or oversized one. Try your chosen outfits on before your session and make sure everything fits and looks good together, and be sure to choose a style that looks good on each member of your family. Everyone can wear a different cut or fit as long as it’s flattering to their body type.

Keep comfort and movement in mind
While it can be tempting to choose the cutest possible outfits for your kids, be sure to keep their comfort in mind. An uncomfortable child is quicker to throw a fit during your session! An outfit like jeans and a nice shirt or a longer dress is perfect because it allows your child to move comfortably and have fun during the photo session.

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Avoid graphics and logos
When choosing what to wear, stay away from graphic t-shirts or other clothing with logos or brand names on them. You don’t want anything on your outfits to draw attention away from your smiling faces!

Pay attention to dress length
You want your children to be comfortable, but you should be comfortable too! A dress or skirt that’s too short can inhibit your ability to pose comfortably and limit what sort of poses you can do. If you plan to wear a dress for your family photo session, be sure to try it on beforehand and make sure the length allows you to move comfortably and easily.

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It takes a little planning, but you can choose outfits that make your whole family look amazing, ensuring you get photos you’ll love and cherish for years to come!

Karissa Zimmer is an experienced professional Harrisburg photographer based in Camp Hill and serving the surrounding areas, including Mechanicsburg, Hershey and Carlisle.

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