An integral key to capturing great outdoor family pictures is to be spontaneous and let the children guide the shots.

I had previously photographed Devika’s family when their son Jayden was just two years old. The next time I had the pleasure of their company was to document the arrival of their little girl Isabella, so it was great to have a chance to capture the spirit of the family now they had developed strong personalities.

As you can see, Gairloch Gardens in Oakville is a fantastic outdoor location as it offers so many different backdrops. I can shoot against the water, rocky shoreline, flower displays, grass or play structures. There are plenty of options so you won’t have a constant steam of onlookers gawking at your photo session.

What you need to ensure great outdoor family pictures

One of the most popular questions I am asked is what to wear for a photo session. I always suggest coordinating colours without being too matchy. No one needs to have identical outfits for the family, but colour coordination across the generations tie the subjects in nicely. It is also important to look at your skin tone and find shades to complement your colourings. There are a number of websites and apps that can offer you colour palette suggestions such as Kaleidoscope.

Some of my favourite images from Davika’s family photo session were the impromptu shots capturing the energy and freedom of the children. The addition of fun props such as the umbrella and scooter pictured added a fun element to the session. These were a hit with the children and led to natural smiles and expressions. In essence, a little planning goes a long way.

Another favourite suggestion is of unconventional and abstract patterns when it comes to the composition of people. Shooting from above and layering multi angled bodies, result in interesting outlines and silhouettes. This advice can also be utilized when taking your own outdoor family pictures so start playing with different angles and have fun!