My approach to family photography

I photograph a variety of different family photo sessions,  maternity, newborns/ babies, childhood, high school seniors, graduation, family portraits to name just a few. My aim is to create beautiful, timeless images for you and your family that you will treasure for time to come. 

In the blink of an eye our children are grown up and often we find ourselves wishing we would have documented their milestones better.  A family portrait session with me will be fun for your children, and relaxed for you. I know how important it is to keep the young family members moving and engaged. I capture your children’s personalities and emotions while we play. Be prepared for lots of tickles, giggles and laughter, and capturing those perfect moments that you never want to forget. 

As a childhood and family photographer I understand just too well how a family photo shoot sometimes can be a little bit of a daunting task for families – from wondering whether your children will behaved, to what to wear or the choice of location. I am here to make your life easier! Some of these topics I have previously addressed in blog entries and you can find these right here :

HOW TO PREPARE FOR FAMILY PHOTOS

WHAT TO WEAR FOR FAMILY PHOTOS

In today’s blog entry I will give you a better idea of what to expect if you book a family photo session with me. So lets talk get into the details … 

• Lets talk first !
  Our time together begins with a conversation in person, over the phone or in emails. I want to find out more about your expectations for the photo session.  I like to prepare and ensure that your session and final images are all you were hoping for. In a conversations prior to the session we will plan together the location, the look, feel, time of day of the photo shoot and what to wear. I will want to get to know you and will ask you to tell me more about your children so that I can connect with them during the session. I also have found that creating a Pinterest board we both can contribute to is a very helpful tool. So if you are on Pinterest lets get started with that !
  
  
• Location
  Do your kids have a park they absolutely love? Is your family active and frequently hits the trails or goes on camping trips? Did you and your spouse meet over dinner at a local restaurant? Family photography sessions should take place in a locations that you have a connection to. This can be your home, a local park or hiking trail, downtown, wherever you want it to be. Or maybe you have a certain idea of what you would like your pictures to look and feel like. We can certainly pick a location based on that as well. Together we will choose the right location. 

• Timing
  While I will gladly photograph you and your family anytime of day,  I do suggest we schedule something at a time of day when the light works favorably for you, especially if we are doing an outdoor session. The last hour before dusk is frequently referred to as Golden Hour and will create the warmest and most beautiful light you have ever seen. I love to take family portraits at that time of the day !
  
• Posing Versus Not
  I love to capture the real life moments of families interacting with each other. During my sessions I try to capture a good balance of posed and lifestyle pictures. I will pose my families, but I love to capture the moments in between as well.  All of these moments combined tell your story and show the love and connection your family has.
  
• Setting Up the Scene
  Ahead of a photoshoot I develop a time line with locations and poses I would like to do. I will bring props like chairs, stools, trunks, blankets, red wagon or tricycles if needed. I engage your kids in games and conversations to capture their personalities and emotions. And I have been known to bring bribes as well. And if kids aren’t cooperating, I don’t worry. It just means it’s time to try something else instead. My goal for every session is to keep everyone relaxed.  
• Things I Love
  I love, love motion in photos. so be ready to walk, sing, throw, toss, dance and tickle. This helps you relax and will create pictures that are natural.
  I love for everyone to have fun. Family portrait session should not be a forced event but an awesome afternoon at the park celebrating who you are as a family and how you interact with each other. Everybody gets to be themselves and to have fun doing what we do.
  I love getting to know my families. Tell me what your favorite thing in the world is ! What is the craziest thing you have ever done as a family or for your family ? How do you like your coffee ?  And do you watch Dr. Who on TV ? The more I know about you, the better we connect. The better we connect the more you will love your pictures!
  
• Editing Style
  Last but not least a few words on the style of my work. I edit my images as timelessly as possible. I strive to get the colors in your images as accurately as possible. My style tends to be on the light and airy side. I respect other editing styles, such as the currently very popular dark and moody photos, just please know that is not my style. Neither are filters that emphasize certain colors in your images. Please feel free to check out the following pages on my website to get an idea of what your pictures will look like if you book a session with me :

PORTFOLIO

I hope todays blog gave you a better idea of what to expect if you decide to book a photo session with me.  I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me and my work.  Please feel free to leave me any questions or comments below. I can’t wait to meet you and make memories with you and your family.