AS A MOM OF FOUR YOUNG KIDS, I'M PRETTY PATIENT. I KNOW THAT KIDS DON'T ALWAYS [EVER?] DO EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO. I DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION FROM MY OWN KIDS AND I CERTAINLY DON'T EXPECT IT FROM YOURS. MY SESSIONS ARE RELAXED AND CHILD LED.
MY BIGGEST TIP IS TO EMBRACE THE SEASON YOU ARE IN AND GO INTO THE SESSION THINKING OF ALL THE WAYS YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU FEEL TENSE OR STRESSED, YOUR KIDS ARE LIKELY TO PICK UP ON THAT.
DON'T STRESS IF YOUR CHILD HAS A MELTDOWN DURING OUR SESSION; WE CAN ALWAYS GIVE THEM A BREAK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND CAPTURE JUST MOM AND DAD [I’VE ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO HOLD A BABY ON MY HIP TO GET A PHOTO OF MOM AND DAD].
I SUGGEST BRINGING SOME NON-MESSY SNACKS AND WATER. IF YOU ARE HAVING A BEACH SESSION I RECOMMEND BRINGING EXTRA CLOTHING FOR THE RIDE HOME, JUST IN CASE.
I DO TRY TO CAPTURE A FEW CLASSIC FAMILY PORTRAITS WITH EVERYONE LOOKING AT ME, BUT I HONESTLY DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE LOOKING AND SMILING AT MY CAMERA THE WHOLE TIME; IN FACT, I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE THE RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE I'M PHOTOGRAPHING. I WILL GUIDE AND DIRECT YOU AS I SEE FIT, BUT MOSTLY I WILL LET THE MOMENTS UNFOLD NATURALLY. KEEP IN MIND ‘HANDS’ AND ‘GAPS’ - IF YOU ARE TOUCHING EACH OTHER AND NOT AWKWARDLY SPACED OUT, IT ALL FALLS INTO PLACE NICELY. DON’T WORRY, I’LL TELL YOU IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED!
I'M ALL ABOUT LETTING KIDS BE THEMSELVES. THEY CAN EXPLORE, PLAY, TWIRL, AND HAVE FUN. FAMILY PHOTOS CAN BE FUN!
