Acadia National Park Family Portraits
Jean and family pose for family portraits in Acadia National Park
Family Photos in Downeast Maine
It was a sunny and warm August day in Downeast Maine when I met up with Jean, Dave, their children, and grandchildren for a family photo session. Now, I don’t know about you, but I find the same old sit and smile family portraits to be just a tad bit boring, so when I take on a family session, I really like to make sure our location will allow for everyone to have a bit of fun. I particularly love the Downeast region for its food, its people, its rocky coast and sandy beaches, and the great trails for hiking. For this session, I was fortunate that Jean chose Acadia National Park for this year’s family session with me.
Best Place for Family Photos in Maine
Acadia National Park is one of my favorite places to do photography sessions of all genres and styles. I could go on for days about the different spots I like to use, and the fun I have every time I visit them. So when Jean said yes to this little road trip to one of my favorite parts of Acadia National Park, I couldn’t help but get excited.
Family Portraits at Frazer Point
On this particular day I knew traffic along route 1A from Holden to Ellsworth would be rough at best. So I opted for a little back road riding out route 9 and over to Franklin instead. I always enjoy a pass through this area on my way to Schoodic Peninsula. Since I had left plenty of time in the schedule for this detour, I didn’t need to feel any rush while enjoying the drive with the windows down and my favorite 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s playlist going.
Our first stop was at a little picnic area to group up. I asked the whole family (all fourteen members) to follow me down to the dock to start them out with photos on the water at this scenic overlook. Views of Winter Harbor and up the bay create some really awesome backdrops any time of day.
After we finished with some ice-breaker photos we made our way back to our cars to drive the one-way loop to our next location. We looked like quite a caravan moving between locations within the peninsula loop with five vehicles in total! We made a quick stop for the kids to explore and play along the rocky shoreline, while the parents took in views of Mount Desert Island and the Winter Harbor Lighthouse on Mark Island. This lighthouse was built in 1856, and is now privately owned.
With some exploration and play time out of the way, it was time to head to our final portrait location at the point.
Winter Harbor Lighthouse as photographed by The Bearded Mainer Photography (2021)
Fun Family Photo Sessions in Maine
Before we stepped out onto the ledges at Schoodic Point, I talked with the family about safety, boundaries on the rocks in relation to the surf, and careful treading. It is important to always be mindful of your location when exploring a spot like this one. After our talk, I told them to just go have some fun and explore together. They sure did, too!
When you hire me for a family photo session, you’ll learn that I am not going to restrict us to the same old sit and smile photos you might be used to. They just aren’t my style. I want to capture your family having a genuinely good time in a beautiful location. Especially when younger kids are involved; sitting still can be a daunting undertaking for even the most relaxed parents. You never know if you’ll have a smile out of every kid, eyes all open, and looking at the camera. Then there is also the children’s engagement and interest levels that often quickly drain. Raise your hand if you know what I’m talking about (both of my hands are up by the way, as a parent of a six year old). So why force something that just isn’t fun? Exactly. That’s why I do things a little differently.
Jean’s family was a DREAM by the way. Everyone was so excited to be at this dazzling coastal location, and it showed in every one of their photos! For their more formal portraits, I pulled each individual family unit aside first, then broke down to just the kiddos, and just the parents. To round out our session, we finished with some really visionary whole-family group shots, where I gave them the choice on where to stand (with a little guidance), and instructed them to just have fun with it. That worked like a charm, and created some really cool shots that uniquely captured their family, and each member’s personality. I just love these natural group moments! The expressions always feel so much more genuine than just asking for a smile, and the action in the shots add so much interest and value to the image. Personally I feel it adds a sense of in-the-moment that can never be forgotten.
Tips for Family Photo Sessions
To have a successful and cohesive family photo session, it is important to remember a few things.
The first order of business should be location. Location, location, location. You want a place with multiple views and location options. If you have younger kids, you also want to think safety, and room to play. A session with me will always include play time and some exploring! Want me to bring along some toys such as balls, bubbles, or other assorted entertainment? DONE. Just let me know in advance.
Make sure everyone has eaten. Avoid large meals prior to your shoot however, or you could feel uncomfortably full and sleepy during your session. Staying hydrated is just as important.
Jean’s grandkids pose for family portraits in Acadia National Park
Next, you’ll want to talk as a family about styling your outfits. I love approaching styling for these larger family sessions by coordinating the individual family units first. Each unit should be as unique as each family member. But making sure the color palette and patterns chosen are cohesive should be a priority. From there, you can go further by keeping cohesion across the entire family and its units, without actually matching (unless that’s the look you’re going for). Being YOU is key.
Bring your personality. Particularly when doing larger family sessions, it is so important that each unique personality is seen and heard; that’s what makes your family so beautiful.
Finally, just have fun! Many times these family sessions are members getting together for a yearly reunion or vacation, where they don’t often see each other throughout the year otherwise. Your photo session is a great time to catch up, enjoy each other’s company, share laughs, and tell stories. All of this will create magical family moments for me to capture, even if you don’t realize it at the time.
I had a wonderful day with Jean and Dave’s big family, and if the photographs are any indication, I think they did too.
Until next time!
Your Photographer,
Shaun Crockett - The Bearded Mainer
See more shots from this Downeast Maine family portrait session below!
More from The Bearded Mainer Photography
Penobscot Bay Estate hosted some of Maine’s most talented and creative wedding vendors to create a stunning luxury wedding experience for a segment to be featured on World’s Greatest TV airing on the Bloomberg Channel.