My Themes for Photographing Family Sessions

Every session is different, but I always try to hit a few themes with my posing and perspective. I do this without telling my clients. It’s a process I think through in my mind. Instead of having a checklist of poses, I like to think of how I will show certain emotions though the interactions of your family.

Here are a few examples of the themes I love to photograph:

Love.

I am who I am, which is a sucker for love, so every session I’m striving for connection and expressions of your love as a family. I can guarantee that I’m going to ask you to hug, kiss, snuggle, and sniff each other (just kidding! sort of! ;) It’s just something I have to capture every time!

Love is my favorite theme, so be ready to get cuddly, ok?

Fun.

We have fun at the sessions. It’s not all stiff sitting and perfect posture. During our session you guys will hug, snuggle, maybe lie down, pick up the kids, maybe throw them in the air, hang them down low, swing from side to side, and dance! There will also be a few games. Don’t worry, it’s easy stuff!

Laughter.

Of course when we’re having fun we are going to get some laughs, and this is one of my favorite types of pictures to capture. Having fun with your family is the best. Who else knows all the silly inside jokes and all the best tickle spots??

Calm.

Even with the wildest kids (not that I’ve photographed “the wildest kids” I don’t know who they are?!), there are moments of calm in every session. Moments where the kids hug their parents and are genuinely happy to be with their parents and siblings.

I think many parents assume the photo session is going to be a disaster. They think “someone will melt down, kids are going to be uncooperative, and someone will be running around and not listening, my partner is going to be annoyed” but that is not the case in my experience. Most kids (and partners) ;) are really cooperative. They love just spending time with their parents. Sure, some might need to take a break and then come back, and that’s why I always recommend 1 hour sessions for younger kids.

I always say to parents to reassure everyone that the session will be fun. Try to get the family pumped to have a good time and you will have calm, happy kids!

Joy.

I guess this could be combined with fun, but have you ever had a kid not experience pure joy when they are be lifted or tossed in the air? It looks like the best time ever.

If you are looking for a lifestyle family photographer in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, or Wake Forest please send me a message! I would love to photograph you!
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How to Prepare Your Family for a Sunset Session

Many parents are hesitant to schedule an evening family photo session. Believe me, I get it. It’s hard wrangling little ones when they are used to dinner, bath, bed at that exact time. It’s called the witching hour for a reason! It’s stressful to think about how it might not go well, and how bad the meltdowns could be. But, in my experience children usually rise to the occasion! I have photographed a lot of children in the evening and I swear I never have had a bad situation. In general I’m not that worried about how kids behave when I have a session. I try to get the kids to play and have fun. But to set your mind at ease I have some tips to help a sunset session go smoothly.

1. Let go of your expectations. Trust that I will lead the session and your kids will be allowed to explore and have fun. Show up ready to play, snuggle and let your kids do their thing. We won’t ask them to just stand in place and smile. That will be too hard for them to do for a long period of time and I’m not interested in stiff, posed images anyway! Kids feed off the energy of their parents, so as parents try to stay calm and relaxed and most likely your kids will follow suit. But if they start to get a little wild, it’s ok, we’ll just go with it!

2. Have a low key day. If you can, schedule your session on a day that you don’t have to work, and you and the kids can just lay low. If you can at least have the afternoon at home it will help in having plenty of time to get ready and not stress and rush around. Just to reiterate what I mean about laying low: please don’t have your kids attend a party on the day of the session. Take it from me, kids tend to be tired and grumpy when forced to do something they think isn’t fun after a fun event like a birthday party!

3. Prepare your family in advance. Let everyone know in advance that they’ll be getting pictures taken but it will be fun experience and they will get to play! Explain to your husband that it is a lifestyle session so it’s not going to be as stressful as a session where everyone is expected to look and smile at the camera for a long period of time. That causes a lot of stress because everyone knows getting kids to look at a camera is stressful! Also, ask him to help get the kid(s) ready so you have more time to get yourself ready! Leave plenty of time to get the session on time so you aren’t stressed driving over to the location.

4. Play fun music on the way there. Keep the mood light. Remind everyone that it will be fun. Try to keep the vibe happy, but also like it’s not a big deal? Cause it’s not. It will be fine!

5. Have an early dinner and surprise kids with a treat after! It’s our tendency to think as adults, to think we’ll have dinner when it’s over, but trust me you’ll want everyones bellies full before so no one gets hangry. Also, this can be controversial, but I recommend not bribing with ice cream or another treat after. I’ve seen that go badly when the kids are way too focused on the treat after and just want the session to end. Instead, assure to the kids beforehand that they are on their way to do something fun and just make it seem like the experience is the treat! Definitely treat them after the session is over, but as a surprise!
   
   If you are interested in scheduling a sunset session with me. Contact me here.

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