by Tip Hero Damian Wolf

 

Kids grow up quickly, and before you know it, they’re too busy to sit still for a professional family portrait. It can be difficult to find the time and money to have your family’s portrait taken professionally, but the ends justify the means when you have a series of beautiful portraits to cherish as your family grows.

If you’re looking for a way to capture your ever-changing family without breaking the bank, then check out these seven tips for saving money on family portraits.

Book Off-Season Sessions

If you want the best bang for your buck, then book your portrait sessions during off-season periods throughout the year. Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter and other major holidays usually cost more because the demand is higher. Off-season discounts vary according to photographer. Some companies charge less during off-season wedding months like December through April while others may book low-cost sessions during summer. Ask your photographer if she offers any special discounts for off-season bookings.

Don’t Hog the Spotlight

Let your photographer do his job. A lot of families naturally bicker over minor inconveniences, but a portrait session is no time to argue. Instead of wasting valuable and expensive time deciding who should sit in front, allow your photographer to direct the show. It can be tough to quell your inner director, but giving the reins to a professional will help make the whole experience quicker, easier and less costly.

Limit Your Clothing and Settings

Modern family portraits feature various settings and different wardrobes to capture candid moments, but you can save time and money by limiting these aspects of your photo shoot. Most photographers charge by time with average sessions lasting between 30 minutes and an hour. According to Claudette Gross, Long Island professional family photographer and my dear friend, you can maximize your time with the photographer by limiting your clothing to one outfit and setting to one location. To get even better value, choose clothing and a setting that don’t require tricky maneuvering. The less time your photographer spends positioning your family the more photos she can take.

Hire a New Professional

Even with discounts and special pricing, some photographers and portrait studios can be expensive for the average family. You don’t have to resort to sticking your camera on a tripod to get a decent picture. Instead, look on social media sites for up-and-coming professionals to take your family portrait. Local professionals who have just graduated from college or just starting out need work, and they may have the skills even if they lack the established credit of a major studio. Plus, they typically charge much less for their services because they’re new to the scene.

Look for Mini-Session Opportunities

Professional photographers sometimes offer “mini-sessions,” which are short sessions usually held over a specified weekend for families that just need a quick portrait taken. Mini-sessions typically last between 20-30 minutes and can be just enough to get what you need for your family. These sessions also give you a good idea of how the photographer works so that you can book him in the future for additional shoots. Mini-sessions also cost much less than a full session — sometimes 50 to 90 percent off the cost of a regular studio session.

Buy Virtual Coupons

Groupon, LivingSocial and other virtual coupon sites offer deals on local photography and national chains alike. Use these sites to find deals on everything from setting fees to print packages. Even better, some local photographers might match the deals offered on these sites if you call them to book directly. Best of all, many of these deals can be purchased well in advance and used later when you have the whole family together for a shoot.

Skip the Prints

Portrait studios and professional photographers make their real money with prints because of the editing and skill that go into producing quality images. You should reward a good photographer with business, but you don’t have to print every shot she takes just to be polite. Choose a few images that you really like and have the photographer edit and print them professionally. You can order a CD of the rest of the images and print them on your own later. Make sure your photographer sells you the unlicensed copy of your CD so that you can print your images without infringing on her protected work.