How to Have a Successful Family Session
Family sessions are something I absolutely love to photograph. I come from a big family and did a lot of babysitting/nannying over the years and I love kids! This certainly helps me to work with kids for my family sessions.
My biggest piece of advice to parents when it comes to their family sessions, be willing to go with the flow and don’t have high expectations. Parents know more than I would that kids are unpredictable! I completely understand that you want your photos to come out beautiful, but I also believe that sometimes we just need to let kids be kids. I certainly have a more “loose” approach when it comes to photographing families with young kids. I start the session by getting the typical “look at me and smile” and as soon as the kids start to get antsy, I let them run around while I capture some candid photos of them. Oftentimes the candid shots of the kids having fun are some of the parents favorites! Letting the kids have a little break from “forcing smiles” helps them to cooperate for the rest of the session. This is also usually when I take a photo of just the parents! I know how hard it can be for the parents to get nice photos together, so I always prioritize this.
Another approach I have is connecting with your kids by talking to them at the beginning of the session. I want them to feel comfortable with me, because this makes it easier! Sometimes when kids don’t want to smile, I crack a joke to try to get them to laugh. Usually when the kids feel pressure to smile, they do the complete opposite. This is why I firmly believe in being more relaxed when it comes to family sessions. Sometimes the best photos from the session are the ones where the parents are just interacting and playing with their kids.
Overall, I want your family session to be stress-free and fun! I do my best to photograph your family in a way that shows who you are. I make it my goal to capture moments that truly reflect your family's personality and dynamics. Instead of solely focusing on stiff poses in front of the camera, I allow the families to interact with each other, play, and have fun. I capture these moments in a way that showcases the family's connection and love for one another.