This place is heaven for children, adults and fur babies. I often ask my clients to look at our session together as an experience– an evening of playing, exploring and making memories together. Some of my favorite locations have so much for little humans to engage in. I ask to be called “Mommy/Daddy’s Friend” instead of “a photographer” to help set a more familial, laid back tone for our evening.
This particular garden is near Loch Raven, just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Trails to walk, benches to rest, birdhouses to peek inside, hills to climb, flowers to smell and pick, and at times, even live music to set the vibe of the evening.
Here, you get to just, be.
You can lay with your babies, or chase them around. We could pack a picnic, we could bring bubbles, we could go on a family walk through the grounds. It really is up to what your crew likes to do and how you enjoy spending time together as a family.
As part of your Welcome Guide for our Family Photography Session, you will get some pretty helpful tips with how to prepare for our time outdoors. This is for your children, as well as your partners and yourself.
- Make sure your kids are fed. Having a snack on hand can help any mid-session crashes and keep the energy up. Also bringing water for them as we tend to move around and play quite a bit.
- Be cognizant of your footwear. I am team barefoot- I want toes in the grass and dancing in the dirt, but I understand that is not for everyone. Though I do prefer a more casual, natural look, many clients like to wear shoes. Please be mindful of where we are photographing. When walking trails and playing near water, footwear can be a bit tricky- we can always carry your shoes, or kick them off when needed.
- Sunscreen– be sure to apply sunscreen well enough before the session that it has time to soak in and not leave a sheen to the skin- we also do not want sunscreen on clothes. Typically our sessions are later in the evening, so the sun will not be too harsh.
- Bug spray– depending on where we shoot and the time of year, mosquitos can be pesky, especially if your kids taste delicious. I suggest a spray to the ankles and back.
- Talk Steph Up!!!! Talk about me like I am the coolest person on the planet so your kids are looking forward to hanging out with me- as nanny for nearly 12 years, I can speak their language, so please do not refer to me as “family photos” or “a photographer”. I am your friend.
- All sessions with Steph Kines Photo are child-led. This means that we do not demand children behave a certain way or try to control them. I use distraction and engagement techniques, insight from our consult, games, and our environment to naturally capture your child as themselves. That is my photographic voice. That is the experience.
More guidelines and session tips in my newsletters and Welcome Guides!
Enjoy.
Steph
xx
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