If I've never taken your family photos before you're probably wondering what the shoot is going to be like. Let me walk you through how I work so you feel prepared for our photo session.
Pre-session
Before the day we will decide on a location. If we are doing the photos outdoors I encourage you to choose something that isn't a massive pain to get to. I usually try to keep the location close to your home if possible so the kids aren't bored and frustrated by the time they get there. I also try to avoid keeping you sitting in traffic or circling forever to find a parking spot. There are some locations that get very busy in the spring and fall and I usually advise against those when we choose a spot. If I get the location and find that there was an event there that is going to distract everyone or make parking hellacious, I will probably call you and offer an alternative location. I find being flexible about this can make our lives much easier if something comes up the day of. Please know that some locations require a permit or have restrictions and I respect those but we will discus that before the session.
If you have any questions before the session feel free to ask. I am happy to help prepare you so we are all relaxed and know what to expect. Here's some things I would love to know beforehand if they aren't mentioned in the questionnaire. If you have small babies I will need to know if they can do tummy time (or if they hate it), sit up, pull up and stand up (assisted or unassisted). I don't usually travel with too many props but I do bring things that can help make the baby comfortable for the shoot like a blanket or a small chair to pull up on. I'm always happy to use personal items as long as they are safe for the kiddo. Also if they have specific allergies like grass or ants please tell me so we can avoid those things.
For older children feel free to send me some talking points for them. What do they like to watch or play with so I can tailor my banter to keep them entertained as well. For instance if your 4 year old thinks farts are hilarious I'm not above making fart noises for an hour. If you have any children with special needs please let me know. Especially if they are non verbal, tend to hyper focus, are overstimulated by the outdoors or loud noises or have sensory issues. This will keep me from using a flash if it bothers them, going to a location that may inadvertently distract them or other surprises. Every child is different so please talk with me about this before hand so they are calm and comfortable.
If you have anything specific you want from the photosession let me know so we can decide the best time to do it. And if mom or dad has any physical limitations let me know so I don't tell all the kids to pile on Dad and throw out his back or something!
During the session:
The classic family photos where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera usually happens within the first couple minutes. I try to get those right off the bat so when the kids tire of my antics we can let the shoot devolve into some more natural candid photos. I will try to keep things fluid and light so the kids don't feel like they are doing a chore. I don't usually force anything during a shoot. Whether its a pose or a prop or a silly game to get the kids interacting, If something just isn't working we will go on to the next thing. If someone needs a minute to warm up that's fine. Or if someone doesn't want to participate we will just continue without them until they realize they are missing out on the fun! If a toddler needs to run around that's fine too. I will change spots within our location often during our shoot. I do this to give you variety but more importantly it feels like progress to a kid. Babies especially need new simulation to stay amused. If a baby needs something like a snack or a water break then by all means let me know. If you are doing an outfit change and you feel like your kiddos are starting to approach a meltdown let me know so we can get that second outfit in before that happens.
My shoots can feel a little chaotic at times. Especially if you have extra silly kiddos. I work hard to draw out those sillys so just let it flow. Embrace the chaos! That is when kids are their best! Just keep smiling even if it feels like the toddler is being too wiggly and the 4 year old keeps doing the opposite of what I ask him to do. Remember all I need is a fraction of second and a sincere interaction between family members to capture a beautiful real intimate moment. Try to interact with each other as much as possible and just keep smiling. If you're concerned about something just say so and I'll let you know if we need to fix it or not.
When it comes to toys and props I tend break those out after a little while. I usually get their best attention in the first few minutes so I try to save the toys for later. Also sometimes toys can be more distracting than helpful so I always avoid them if possible. You'll usually find that if you bring your toys from home they will become chopped liver in the face of a new exciting place to explore. But do bring something that you want them photographed with or something they love that will help me interact with them like a ball or a book. Just be aware if they are holding it, yes it will be in the photograph. Books are a great way to get the whole family to interact and they are wonderful at keeping kids still and cuddled up to you for a few minutes at least. Remember great candid family photos are all about your connections so bring anything that helps you connect as a family.
If someone is having a bad day just try to be patient with them. Not every day is great day for pictures when you're a kid. They have a ton of growing to do and they are almost always sick with something. I've had babies that needed a bottle break, kids that needed a talking to, dogs that needed a poop break, sudden rain clouds burst on us, bug bites, meltdowns, toddlers fall down and scratch up a knee, heads bonked, feelings hurt because they couldn't all fit on mom's lap, poop explosions, potty accidents; just about everything you can think of has probably happened during a shoot! Sometimes things are out of our control and worst case scenario we will just reschedule and hope for a better day. If you're kiddo wakes up sick the morning before a shoot please let me know. I would rather let them get better and try again another day then have them suffer through a photo shoot with tired eyes. And remember, I have kiddos too! I know they are basically just walking ids and that you're sitting there agonizing over their behavior. I would be very unhappy if I expected them to be perfect angels!
Sometimes during the session I may do things that seem odd. For instance sometimes I may stop directing you for a minute and fall silent. I do this because I am hoping that a quiet moment will cause the kiddo to forget that I am there and I will catch a nice quiet candid moment. Sometimes I do this because I am anticipating a moment that I think might happen. Sometimes I am just giving the baby a break from all the ridiculousness happening behind the camera and letting them refresh by being distracted for a minute. Other times I'm trying to gage if a baby is getting tired or bored and plan my next move. Sometimes I will also ignore a child if they seem like they don't like all the attention. If someone is being shy I usually focus on a sibling or an adult until they are ready to participate. Don't worry about their shyness. It will pass after a few minutes. Sometimes really adorable things happen in really terrible lighting. I will usually try to adjust where I am or where the subject is and try to continue the cuteness. It can feel like I'm on the wrong side of the action but I won't sacrifice the moment to bad lighting. You hired me because I'm a professional and I'm only going to take professionally lit images. I always try to have everyone positioned before interactions start to avoid this!
Post photo session:
Oh my god why is it so stressful to get the whole family up and to a park on time, fed, happy and looking nice!? It just is. I wish I could make that part easier on you! But it's done! Now you can go out to lunch and pretend like the family always looks this good. HA! It usually takes me 2-3 weeks to edit the pictures and deliver the online gallery to you. So just relax and check your email! Make sure the kiddos know they did a good job (Even if it doesn’t feel applicable haha!). I want them to look forward to the next session not dread it. I'm sure they would love to sit down with you and look at the pictures when they are delivered too!
I hope this long winded explanation helps you feel prepared for our shoot! Let me know if you have any questions!