At the end of one of my last family sessions of 2015, the mom looked at me and said, “Are all families this crazy?” My answer to her was a big, fat yes! And that’s exactly what I want. I like movement and energy in my images and you can’t get that from sitting around. From a client’s perspective, I know all that chaos can make it feel like there’s no way I got a good shot. They don’t get to see the goodness that I see on the back of my camera though. I always say to expect the unexpected, but there are a few things that families can do to have the best shoot possible.
Interact – A lot of times this goes against what most people think a family portrait session is. Most people envision a shoot that is stiff and boring. You’ll be asked to sit and smile and it’ll be awkward and uncomfortable. Not my style! I want to work with families who are passionate about capturing moments, not poses. I want to photograph parents who are so engaged with their children, they don’t even notice a camera in their face. I will tell you where to sit, stand, kneel, but then it’s up to you to interact with your children. I know it might feel weird at first, but the more relaxed you are, the more genuine emotion pours out. I’m going to encourage you to cuddle, and snuggle, and kiss. I want you to hold hands and get close. Sing songs. Play itsy bitsy spider. Have a staring contest. Anything your children enjoy. They are going to love the undivided attention from their mom and dad and you’re going to have images of pure joy. If I want you to look at the camera, I’ll tell you. Otherwise, just enjoy the time together!
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Do Something – Another thing that helps during a family session is to plan an activity. It takes the pressure off having an official photo shoot and you can relax more. It can be something as simple as taking a walk. The idea is to choose an activity that is special to your family. Do you enjoy riding bikes, coloring, going to the beach, the park, the zoo, throwing rocks in a pond, etc.? Thing about the things you like to do together and plan your family session around that. When you look back on your images years from now, you’ll be so thankful you captured something that made your family happy.
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Let Them Run – Kids don’t like to sit still and they shouldn’t have to during a photo shoot. This is especially true for toddlers. They have endless energy and that can make for some amazing images. It’s also a great way to get sibling shots. Ask them to hold hands and race. Or if they are older, try piggy backs. Again, this goes back to making the photo shoot fun! Resist the urge to ask the kids to settle down. If they are getting out of hand and I can’t reel them in, I’ll let you know, but most of the time they are just being their silly, crazy selves.
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We take pictures as a way to hold on to something special. To freeze a moment in time. The minute you ask someone to stop and look at the camera, that moment is gone. The authenticity is gone.
Your family session should tell a story. A story about your family dynamic. A story that your children can look back on and remember the things that make your family special and unique. So instead of getting everyone ready for a dreaded family portrait session, look at it as an opportunity to spend some much needed quality time together … in nice clothes. Lol!