Why Do Families Have Professional Family Portraits? 8 Reasons We See Most Often
Families rarely wake up one morning and randomly decide that “Today’s the day for a professional family portrait.”
Usually, something triggers it.
After photographing families in Singapore since 2009, we’ve noticed the same reasons come up again and again. A graduation, everyone being back in Singapore, children growing up, grandparents getting older or simply realising that one person is always behind the camera.
Here are 8 of the most common reasons families tell us they finally decided to get everyone together to do a family portrait.
If you’re already planning yours,
👉 See our Family Photoshoot Packages, pricing and what to expect before you book.
8 Reasons Families Decide It’s Time For A Family Portrait
1. Celebrate Life’s Major Milestones
Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, a new baby and significant family celebrations are some of the most common reasons families finally make time for a professional portrait.
The milestone doesn’t have to belong to everyone in the photograph.
At Bambini Photography, graduation sessions often becomes family sessions too, particularly when parents and grandparents are already attending the celebration.
Likewise, a milestone birthday or wedding anniversary can be a good reason to update a family portrait that hasn’t been taken for years.
2. When a Family Member’s Health Changes
Sometimes the reason for arranging a family portrait is more personal.
A change in the health of a parent or grandparent can make getting everyone together feel more important than it did before.
These sessions often need a little more thought. We keep the photography session efficient, make sure the older family members are comfortable and prioritise the photographs that matter most while everyone is together.
If grandparents or several generations are joining, our multi-generation family photoshoots allow more time for the large family portrait as well as smaller family combinations.
3. When You’re Always Behind The Camera
Look through your phone and you may find hundreds of photographs of your children and your spouse while surprisingly only a few of you with them.
That’s one of the most common reasons parents tell us they eventually book a family photoshoot.
Everyday phone photos are important.
Professional family photography isn’t meant to replace them. It simply gives the person who is normally taking the photos a chance to be properly included too.
And for once, nobody has to balance a phone against a water bottle or race back before the timer goes off.
Ready to get everyone – including the usual photographer – into the photo?
4. When Everyone is Back Home
Family photos can actually become harder to organise as children get older.
University, NS, travel, work and living abroad can mean everyone is only home at the same time a few times a year.
That’s why school holidays, festive periods and visits home often become the trigger for a family photoshoot.
You don’t need young children for a family portrait to be worthwhile. We regularly photograph parents with tweens, teenagers and grown-up children too.
If everyone is already going to be in Singapore at the same time, that may be the hardest part of the photoshoot solved.
When grandparents, adult siblings and grandchildren are all together, some families use the opportunity to photograph several generations at once. If that sounds like your family, see our Multi-Generation Family Photoshoot packages and group-size information.Â
5. When Family Visits From Abroad
When grandparents, siblings or relatives who live overseas come to Singapore, it may be one of the few times everyone is together in the same place.
Rather than waiting for the next visit, some families use the occasion to update the family portrait while everyone is already here.
For larger extended families, our studio allows grandparents, adult siblings, spouses and grandchildren to be photographed together without depending on Singapore’s weather.
6. Before Someone Leaves For Work, Studies or NS
A child leaving for university, relocating overseas for work or heading into National Service can suddenly put a deadline on the family calendar.
For some families, the photoshoot happens just before the suitcases come out, or before enlistment and the haircut that tends to come with it.
These sessions don’t need to be elaborate. A classic family portrait, sibling photos and a few relaxed combinations may be all you need.
7. When Your Family Portrait Is Seriously Out Of Date
Sometimes there isn’t a major milestone at all.
You simply walk past the family portrait at home and realise the children in it are now taller than you.
Perhaps the boy is now a teenager. Someone has joined the family. Someone else has moved abroad. Or the portrait on the wall is still from 10 years ago.
Families change gradually, which makes it surprisingly easy not to notice how out of date the last family portrait has become.
Some Bambini clients return regularly; others come back only when they realise an entire chapter of family life has passed since the last portrait. There isn’t a correct interval. Only whether the family portrait on the wall still feels like your family today.
👉 If yours is due for an update, see our current family photoshoot packages.
8. Giving A Family Photoshoot As A Gift
For parents and grandparents who already have most things they need, a family photoshoot can be an alternative to another physical gift.
The gift isn’t only the session itself. It’s also an excuse to get everyone to commit to a date and be in the same place.
Bambini gift vouchers are available for families who prefer to let the recipient arrange the session themselves.
When Is The Best Time For A Family Portrait?
There isn’t one perfect time or occasion for a family portrait.
In our experience, the best time is usually when something has made getting everyone together possible; or important.
That might be a graduation, grandparents visiting, adult child and/or their family returning from overseas, a milestone birthday, anniversary or simply realising the last family portrait was taken years ago.
If everyone can make the date, that’s often reason enough.
“…was easy to book the date for our family 4-gen shoot. …
Our photographer was hilarious and fun to work with especially with 2 & 6 year old toddlers! He brought genuine smiles and laughter in every shot ….. This meant a lot especially for us and my grandmother who does not have much time left. ..”- Joyner
Planning Your Own Family Photoshoot?
If one of these reasons sounds familiar, the practical part is straightforward.
Bambini Photography offers guided studio family photoshoots with clear packages, images included and online image selection after your session.
See the packages, what happens during the shoot and answers to common family photography questions on our Family Photoshoot Singapore page.
