After years of being a Yeppoon and Rockhampton family photographer, there are a five things that will change your family photos for the better.
I love helping my families prepare for their session, whether that’s with tips on what to wear, how to get rid of the pre-session anxieties and I know how to alleviate any fear you may have around how your kids might behave.
But there are plenty of easy things you can do that will make the experience of portraits enjoyable for the whole family, (even for the relucant family members ;).
Never ‘discipline’ your child before or during family photos
You set the tone for the whole family. If your energy is positive, loving and calm, your kids will be too. But if you begin to feel stressed, disconnected and annoyed, it amplifies the feelings for your family.
Your kids don’t need to do everything I ask of them. If I feel your child isn’t loving that idea, I’ll move onto the next. If you’re there being playful, that joy is contagious and will be all over your portraits.
Plus, with three kids of my own, I know how tough parenting is (especially in those hard moments). I love seeing how your family plays and loves, tickles, laughs and has fun, even through your little one’s whirlwind of emotions.
And we’re here to document YOUR life, not some picture perfect family who doesn’t exist.
Don’t say ‘look at the camera and smile’
Of course I’ll get a few portraits at the beginning of you looking at the camera and smiling but then I’ll ask you not to.
Why you ask? When you’re looking at your children, when you’re giving them your full attention, it lifts their whole mood!
No one lights up your loved ones like you do and when you look at one another that way, your portraits are filled with nothing but feeling. That’s what you want to remember in years to come.
Don’t expect your kids to stay clean
Do you remember the joy of running in muddy puddles? Of squishing sand between your toes and running around without a care in the world?
That’s childhood!
I’ll often ask you to bring a spare set of clothes, especially for beach sessions. I want your kids to feel free, to run, to laugh and have the time of their life.
Of course we’ll steer clear of the water until the end, (I don’t want them feeling cold or uncomfortable), but when we’re not worried about what we look like, we have way more FUN!
Please don’t bribe your kids to be there
I get it, sometimes you’re worried about how your kids will go during their session, (especially toddlers and teenagers).
But by bribing your kids before the session, you’re telling them that the experience won’t be as good as the thing you’re bribing them with. You’re telling them that family photos are something they’ll have to endure.
When was the last time you just hung out as a family and gave each other your full attention? Tell them this is a family adventure. One where we’re going to tell a few jokes, play some games and have a good time.
Don’t put off having family photos
‘I want to lose weight before we have photos. I’m going to wait until life doesn’t feel so hectic. I want to wait until our family is complete.’
Have you heard yourself say something like this? And did you end up having them when you reached this ‘point?’
I love how a photograph reminds me of how much my kids have grown (because it’s so easy to miss the growth spurts when you live with them).
I love how a photograph reminds me of how it felt to hold my newborn, to cradle their head in my hands as they smiled back at me. I can smell that newborn goodness through the photo…I swear!
I never want to regret not having my motherhood captured and I don’t want that for you either.
Update your family photos
If you’d like to have a chat with me about updating your family photos, please fill out the form below and I’ll be in touch. Or you can learn more about family portrait sessions here.
