Letting go of expectations when it comes to your session is one of the most challenging pieces of family and newborn photography. As a parent, you are investing your time, your money and your heart in this process. Letting your children be, well, children, can be difficult at times, as they do not want to be in front of a camera all morning- and that is 100% ok. I am expecting your young ones to want to play with their toys, to be in their rooms, to be distracted… that is what they do and I am here for all of it. That is who they are. That is real. Sometimes, they want Mom and not Dad, sometimes they want to head down stairs, sometimes they want to hold Spiderman. By giving them their space and the freedom to be themselves, that is when the magical, unexpected moments in your photography session happen,
Our time together should be enjoyable, your children should have fun, your partner should think “that wasn’t so bad…” We want feel-good feelings attached to this experience so the images can bring warmth and smiles.
How do we do this, you might wonder? Through proper preparation for both you and your family. I get to know your toddler on a more personal level through our phone consultation- are they shy at first when meeting new people? Do they like to be tickled and thrown in the air? Do they like their space? Are they playful? More serious? What are their interests- Teddy, Cars, Frozen, PawPatrol? Do they respond to music? Are they comfortable getting dirty? Do they want to be the center of attention?
You also have a very important job of setting the stage for your family, as our time together is more of a memory making experience, than a photography session. Your language matters. I want you to refer to me as your friend, someone you know and love. I ask that parents do not try to control their child’s interest or engagements with me- to be bit more playful and patient. Here a few more tips on how to set up success when it comes to photographing young children.
This new Big Brother went through moments of love and moments of disinterest. At times, he was more into dressing up and playing with Spiderman than he was in playing with Mom and Dad. Sometimes he was snuggly and sometimes he wanted his space. As a photographer, I let the young humans show us what they are in the mood for and try to create engagement around that realness.
Child-led family photography sessions in your own home unfold in ways you never really expect them to. This organic flow gives you a collection of images that are so uniquely yours. So true to your family during this time. So real you can feel the feels when you look back at these photographs.
Styling Guides are sent to each client as a way to inspire and give some direction in places to look for timeless, textured clothing that adds a feeeeel to your gallery. This Mama found her newborn onesie at Target on clearance (lucky her) and has used Baltic Born for the dresses in both her maternity and newborn sessions. For styling tips and things to think about, follow me on Pinterest or check out some other full gallery session here on the blog.
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