You have booked your family session, decided on the location, started to think about your outfits, but what about the actual photo session? You’ve never done a family photoshoot, so you don’t know what to expect. That is just perfect, because I am here to clear that up for you!
My family sessions are all about having fun together. If I had to choose between perfection and having fun, I would choose having fun – every time! I strongly believe that feeling comfortable and having a good time is KEY to getting great family photos. The photos can be technically perfect, but if you were sweating from carrying a furious toddler in between the photos I think that there’s a chance you would keep that feeling with you while looking at the photos.
Imagine that you are on your way to a Christmas celebration, but you and your spouse is having a HUGE fight. You feel hurt and have to wipes tears from your face as you pull up to your parents house. Of course when you get to the event you both put your best smiles on your faces and pretend like nothing had happened. You smile for the camera and open Christmas gifts like everything was in order. But I bet you that when you look back at the photos from this night you don’t feel good. You may have the perfect outfit and a beautiful smile, but the memory of the awkward glances from your spouse will still make your heart drop.
Now this time let’s instead pretend that you are taking your kids to a pumpkin patch. Your daughter is extremely excited about the pumpkins and keeps yelling ‘punkin punkin!!’. You and your spouse are laughing at each other watching her. You try to take a photo of her but she is too excited to stand still. Now when you look back at these blurry photos, you will still get warm inside by the memory of your daughters first experience with pumpkins. Sure, you would love to have a perfect picture, but that doesn’t change the feeling you get watching the photos.
This is why I will ALWAYS choose having a good time over perfection. I want you to look back at these memories with a smile on your face. When you print your photos to put on your wall, I want you to think about this day as a FUN day.
So what can you expect to be doing during your session?
Walk hand in hand.
Sway from side to side with your little one close to your chest.
Stand close to your partner and maybe touch noses.
Cuddle up in a pile and tickle the youngest one.
Maybe have a little race with your kids.
Let your kids take their time and have fun.
What can you expect to NOT have to do during your session?
Be asked to fake any smiles.
Stand in one spot and overthink your pose.
Your kids will not be told to be quiet and sit still.
Get that stiff ‘I’ve been smiling for 2 minutes in a row and I now look like a crazy person’ look.
Worry about if your kids can ‘behave’.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, and you want to know more about my Family Sessions – head over to the Family section at the top to learn more! Or send me an email so that we can chat!!
