As I prepare to begin for my busy photography season, I like to go over past sessions to see where I can improve. Each session was wonderful in its own way and I am so thankful for each and every one of my clients. But there are a few things that I would love to share with you now that I wish I had told you before.

1. All kids are crazy!

Seriously.  A 2 year old will do what a 2 year old will do. They do not bother me! I have raised 3 girls, have 2 granddaughters and I taught Sunday School for 25 years!       Parents will get bothered when their child acts up or won’t smile at the camera, but let me talk and play with them in order to establish a connection with them. I will get that shot! Sometimes, we have a child that is a tough nut to crack. In this case, we may get some great candid shots. In my opinion, these are some of the best photos!

2. Mom, please relax!

 I understand you may not like to have your portraits done. I’ve heard it all: ” I’m not photogenic”, “there’s s no way I’m going to like my images”, “I’m better behind the camera” . Regardless, I am so proud of you for doing this with your family  anyway! It is so important that you are in the portrait too. You are part of the story and I need you to trust me! Let me pose you. I will pose you in ways that are flattering and you will love the final image.

3. Dad, please relax!

I get it- you do not want to do this at all! There are about 5,679 other things that you would rather be doing. But I appreciate that you love your family enough to be a willing participant. But, please dont be grumpy and suck all the fun out of it! I hope this doesnt sound rude- I don’t mean to be! In so many family sessions,  it has been obvious that Dad did not want to be there. This creates a stressful environment for mom, the kids and the photographer. I will do my best to respect your time and not invade your space! If you are not thrilled to be there, just fake it! It will be painless and you are creating beautiful memories for your family.

4. I get jitters before the shoot too!

It’s not just you! This is mostly because every session is so important to me and I want to create a wonderful experience for you. I put a lot of time and thought into how to create gorgeous portraits for your family. Portraits that you will love and are proud to display in your home.

5. I am anxious to hear what you think!

After I have spent an hour loving on your kids and getting to know your family and I have relived the shoot through culling and editing, I’m invested. And I am DYING to know if you’re happy with the finished photos. A short email saying, “We got them and we love them!” or “These are beautiful” or even “I wish we could have gotten a shot of just the girls with Dad !”… it fills in the silence in my head that wants to jump to conclusions about your reaction to the pictures.

The portraits in this blog are of a sweet, sweet family who have always understood these points and allowed me to do my work. I am so grateful for the relationship that I have with them and that they understand the importance of making these memories for their family.