Getting ready for your portrait session can be intense. The stress of a session and the prep work for it can sometimes seem overwhelming. What are you going to wear? How is everyone going to behave? What happens if it rains? What if no one pays attention or does what is suppose to happen?
You’ve finally found someone that’s taken the photos you love and have hired them. Maybe you’ve stalked their social media accounts and fell in love with their posing or their natural looking groups. You want someone that will showcase the adoration and love that exists in your family.
The problem pops up that maybe you are second guessing yourself. How can that photographer capture your family like that? You know your kids. You know your partner and their mood swings. Maybe you are even going to throw a dog into the mix.
Well, I’m here to share with you the truth behind the session.
You’ve met the Boucks before. Their session in my last post is full of love and happiness, but believe me when I say that it was one of the most difficult challenges I’ve had in a while.
At the beginning of the session, this is what I got.
Everyone was stressed and it was showing. Mom wanted some beautiful posed images and was started to get frazzled, especially when the kids were done. They just wanted to run around and get the energy out.
So that’s what we did.
As soon as they had some running time and exploration and I kindly had mom and dad go snuggle behind me, we were able to get the wiggles out. They trusted me and were willing to let me play with them.
Kids have just as much fear and frustration in front of a camera as adults, they just may not be able to verbalize it. Even these two, who I’ve been photographing most of their lives (the little one since before he was born), were still unsure and nervous.
The best thing to do is be patient. I won’t let them hurt themselves and if they can relax a little and be who they are for a little bit, everyone will end up a little bit happier.
They will see the bug in my camera and be able to relax and know that this can be fun. I’m also not above bribery.
Eventually though, it will all be okay. They will relax, the dog will relax, the parents will relax and that is when the magic can happen.
The magic you don’t see, however, is a family that trusts the photographer and knows that what will happen by the end of the session is well worth it.
That is why you should hire a professional. They have the experience and the knowledge to know what is normal and how to get past it. And that is invaluable.
Are you ready to book your session?
