Children and Family Sessions

What to Expect:

So you have scheduled a session for your children or whole family.  Now what?  First of all we need to decide on a location if you haven’t already.  You can see examples of some local places that I have used along with some things to take into consideration when deciding here.

Next you will need to decide what everyone is going to wear.  I HIGHLY recommend you avoid dressing everyone in all white shirts (or all in ANY one solid color for that matter).  Colors that work well together but don’t necessarily all match exactly are best along with a mix of solids and prints/patterns.

Now let’s talk about the actual session.  I have two rules.   Rule #1=  HAVE FUN!  This is not a portrait studio at the mall where your children are expected to pose perfectly and if they don’t…too bad.  You get cruddy photos.  I encourage tickle fights, picking dandelions, and pretty much anything fun (and it helps if it also happens to be a great candid photo opportunity).  If your kids are having fun and happy then it will show in your images.    If they are not it will show too, which leads me to Rule #2=  Parents, you are off the clock.  Take a break.  Sessions with your children can be very stressful, but they don’t have to be.  Trust me, I get it.  I love taking candids of my own kids, but actual planned sessions are usually a nightmare.  They aren’t listening, they are giving that goofy smile they always give when the camera is pointed at them, you are embarrassed because they aren’t listening and you worry people will think they aren’t well-behaved.  Throw all of that out the window and let me handle it.  If this is a family session and the adults in the photo are instructing the kids there is a good chance that even if the kids are smiling perfectly for the camera, the adults aren’t.  If it’s a children’s session and you are running around yelling and shouting behind me or off to the side they will be looking there instead of at the camera.  Let me direct the kids as much as possible while you quietly smile and enjoy the parenting break.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve and let’s face it, kids often listen to people who aren’t their parents better.  I have had several family sessions where I was trying my best to connect with the kids but there were so many people talking to them and directing them at once that they didn’t know where to look or who to listen to.  Sometime it’s tempting to even yell at them out of frustration but that never leads to photo-worthy smiles and isn’t fun for any of you so unless I ask for some help (or a diaper needs changed) let me take over for a while.