When I think back to when I first got started in photography I remember having a strong dislike for family sessions if we are going to be honest. I came prepared. Camera settings planned for the lighting situation, pose ideas, location picked, and tricks to get kids to look at the camera. The families came prepared too. They picked their outfits, fixed everyone’s hair, and promised rewards for smiles. All of THIS preparation the problem. We were all too PREPARED. Once the kiddos lost their attention span and got bored with me and my tricks they stopped smiling and looking at the camera. Then the rewards turned into threats which in turn created unhappy children which obviously did not help the smiling situation. Parents were grouchy, kids were unhappy, and I was stressed and worried I wasn’t getting any good shots.
Over time I realized the BEST shots were the ones where everyone was having fun. The best “poses” were the family acting naturally and enjoying each other as they normally would when they were just hanging out. And with that…the smiles just come. We all have a good time and when they look back at their photos they are also looking back at great MEMORIES! This family session is the epitome of all of this. I’m not sure how excited the older kids were to do this at the begininning, but if they are smiling on their own from the middle to the end…it’s a win!
