5 ways to have an amazing custom family photo session with young children, and 3 ways to make your experience difficult and stressful

5 ways to have an amazing custom family photo session 

1. Meet with the photographer ahead of time, or at least talk on the phone, so that he or she will know what to expect from your family. Fill them in on your family, your kids' ages, and a little bit about them, and you and your spouse. Be sure to mention any special needs or concerns you may have so that your photographer can be prepared.



2. Build up anticipation before you go. Start earlier in the week - tell your kids how fun it's going to be, tell them about where you're going (or if your kids are older, you could involve them in choosing a location). Don't make it too big of a deal, but a little pleasant anticipation can really help.



3. Have a suitable reward - I always want my sessions to be fun, but your kids don't know that ahead of time. It can help from the start if your kids know you're going out for ice cream afterwords. Especially with younger children, a reminder about the coming reward can help them refocus if something doesn't seem to be going their way.



4. For young children a snack or little candy incentive can be a good thing. But be careful not to bring anything colorful or dark that is going to get dripped on their shirt or tint  their mouth bright blue. No chocolate! (Save it for the reward when we're done!) I don't like goldfish either because of all those sticky orange crumbs. My favorites are mini marshmallows, sparingly doled out.



5. Sometimes you need to step away and let the photographer work with your child alone. This is true from baby age up through teenagers. The photographer will want to build a rapport with your child, especially if he or she is not happy, or perhaps even worse, has a fake cheesy grin. This is much easier if you give them a little space. I find that kids get stressed because of all the pressure to smile just right, sit right here, don't do that with their hands, etc. A good photographer can make them comfortable and capture their real smile, and they will ask for your help if they want it.

3 ways to make your experience stressful and get frustrating results 

1. Tell your child to "say cheese!" Very few children will have a real smile while saying cheese. Your photographer will have something in mind that will be more effective.



2. Schedule your session during nap time. Don't do it! As a photographer I would much rather have a session at a less convenient time to myself if its not going to be when your child would normally nap. Same thing goes with the 5:00 witching hour - if this is a part of your life, don't schedule a sunset session! Wait a couple of years; then it will be great.



3. Stress out over little details. I know it would be nice if everything went perfectly. Sometimes it does! But in my family, someone usually has a dirty shirt when it's time for pictures. Or someone played with markers and drew on their hands and it won't wash off. Or someone poured glitter in their hair. Or that perfect hair bow got left in the car, and it's a 10 minute walk back.


Try to relax and remember that your relationship, your love, is the important part of what your photographer is trying to capture. The little details aren't a big deal. If you stress, if your smile is clenched, your children won't be able to relax, laugh, giggle, or play. And you won't love the results. Try to enjoy your time together even if it's not perfect - often I find that parents end up loving the little quirky details the most in the end, because it's their real life. Like the picture (above) of my son taken right after he did a little hair trimming in his room. Hopefully that won't happen to you (and if it does, I hope it's just a little trimming - we will reschedule if it goes down to the scalp!), but now it's one of our favorite pictures, because it's a perfect depiction of our real life at the time.

I have a ton more ideas for how to get the best results from your family photo session here! Click and check it out!

A newborn and her family

I'm so happy to introduce you to the my newest "baby plan" client! This beautiful baby girl was perfect to work with. She did a lot of pictures awake with her family before we got her to sleep. I  like to get to see their eyes, especially when they're clear and focused, like hers are. I especially liked the pictures with her and her big sister (whose baby portraits I did a few years ago - time goes so fast!).




Sometimes everything comes together just perfectly - I love the picture below!


Sometimes the sibling pictures are my favorite. Sometimes they are the hardest ones to get, but this was not one of those times. Big sister was amazing! She was so patient, and really tried not to squeeze too tight :).




And sometimes the mommy-baby pictures are my favorite.












I love the purple flower and wrap that her mom brought! Newborn photography props have come and gone during the years that I have been doing newborn photography. I still like all the hats, but I don't see them as often anymore. I also like that newborn pictures lately are less "gymnastic" and more cozy and comfortable looking. Anyway, doesn't her skin look gorgeous with the purple?








This was another picture her mom requested. I love it. By the time we were working on feet pictures, she was awake again, and NOT THRILLED to be lying down on soft blankets. I was so happy that we got this to work out.

This newborn session is the first in my "baby expressions" collection of four sessions throughout her first year. We'll get to meet again when she is around 3 months old, when she can sit up comfortably (at 6-8 months), and again for her first birthday. It is such a pleasure for me to get to see these darling babies grow through this year. I miss having little babies of my own! (Not enough to want another baby myself :).) So it's especially fun for me to get to spend a little time with other babies, since my own baby is in *first grade* now (how does this happen???)

I have a bunch more newborn sessions, along with some info on my baby plan options, on this blog page - check it out!

I offer four different options for baby photography collections. If you are interested for yourself, or if you have a friend or family member you might like to gift a collection to, I have an online magazine with more information that you might like to see. You can send me your email address below and I will email you a link right away.

Submit your email address to receive more information

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

All About Me photography

This is a project that I've been wanting to work on for a few months. I take a lot of baby pictures, which of course are so important to do because babies grow up TOO FAST.  But one thing I know I have been missing lately is beautiful photography of my older children.  Enter my new favorite sort of session:

"All About Me"

All About Me sessions are all about your older (however old you want!) child.  The theme is *THEM*!  These are styled sessions, with the props provided by... you!  I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.

This beautiful tween loves art and nature.  We gathered up a ton of stuff from her room and off we went to a shady spot that I have loved for a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

And I have to admit - I would love to curl up on a bunch of pillows, under a willow tree, and read a book.  I would like to do that every day. :)
 

 

 

We brought her sketch book and pencils and crayons.
 

In the beginning I was doing the arranging and setup.  It didn't take long before she was in full control of the set. :)  She told me "It's all about ME!"  Right you are.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am such a willow tree fan. 
 

 

 

 

And we finished up with: the glitter poof!  It's harder to do than you might think, just because it's really easy to end up with a fierce face when blowing glitter.  Takes concentration to smile and blow. :)
 

 

You can see some other examples of creative children's photography here. If you would like to invest in some meaningful photography of your child, and what they love, I'd love to talk to you about a session!

How to choose the right photographer for you

First of all, let's start with the obvious elephant in the room. Yes, I am a photographer. I live in Albuquerque and if you are local and you'd like to talk with me about a portrait session, I'd love to hear from you. 

Now that that is out of the way - I also recognize that I am not the right photographer for everyone in Albuquerque! In the last year or so I have seen, met, or gotten to know so many photographers in the area, and as a mom (my #1 job, right?) it is easy to see that choosing a photographer here would be a daunting task.

Since the digital revolution changed everything in the photography business, moms now have options that were never available before, or at least not to the average family. Now instead of just heading off to Sears, you can choose a photographer based on your actual style and what would work best for your family. (You do know that Sears Portrait Studios have closed, right? So you can't go there anyway.)

So - what is your style? I can't answer that, but I can tell you about different styles of photography, and you can decide for yourself.

Traditional posed portraits

In the past these were almost always done in a studio with controlled lighting. This is where the photographer tries to have everyone look at the camera and smile. Nowadays you can also get traditional posed portraits outside on location, and you will be able to find a traditional posed photographer at most price points. Just because it's traditional doesn't mean it has to be boring - it's classic for a reason. A photographer who knows what they are doing with light and posing can make you look amazing. Also, with a simple background, the photographer can focus on faces and relationships. This kind of photography can range from a short appointment at a studio in the mall, to high-end custom portraits.

Lifestyle photography

Lifestyle photography is a more recent trend that is all about documenting your family the way you really are. It's not about dressing up and looking at the camera. It's about celebrating who your family really is, and the relationship you have together every day. Lifestyle photographers like to meet you at your home, or somewhere fun around town, and they want you to play together. It's fun, it's playful, it's casual, and it is perfect for some families. A good lifestyle session should involve your family's hobbies and interests, which I love because that's the kind of thing I want to remember. It is directed by the photographer, but not necessarily posed.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism is photography that is observed by the photographer, but not directed or posed, it's hands-off. It's popular for wedding photography, but it can work for family photography as well. It would take place at your home. In fact I know of photographers that camp out at your house for 24 hours so as not to miss anything. A more moderate approach would be a good four to six hour time block, chosen to capture the best part of your day together. If you want to capture a day in your life, this is a great way to do it.

Once you know what style you prefer, it's easier to make your way through the different photographers' websites you find on local google searches. Look through their galleries or portfolios, and see who has pictures that appeal to you the most. My advice is to make sure the photographer has lots of examples, so you can see that he or she is consistent in their results. Look them up on facebook and see what they're posting there. Read their blog if they have one. Pay attention to the colors and expressions you see in their photos.

Other things to look for

Obviously price is important. You can find a photographer for any price you want to pay. Someone who is just starting out is likely to do a whole session, and include 75 images on a CD for $150. Other photographers may charge $700 for 5 images. Some new photographers have a lot of talent and can do a great job. There is nothing wrong with being a newbie! (We all started there at one point!) But the advantage of an experienced professional is that they can do a great job in any light, even under difficult circumstances. Someone with experience has invested in more equipment, education, possibly a studio, and will cost significantly more than a part-time photographer who is just beginning. You are paying for the quality of their equipment, their skill with light, with people, and with editing tools.

Another thing to consider, especially if you have young children, is whether or not your photographer is good with kids. I have friends who used to tell me some great stories about trying to get her kids' pictures taken by photographers who obviously did not care for children. This is another reason to take a careful look through their galleries - do they have lots of pictures of children with happy, natural smiles? I think it also helps if the photographer has testimonials posted. The best, of course, is if you can get a referral from a friend who has used a photographer that worked well for their family.

Your final product is also important to consider. If you are looking for a really beautiful, high quality, wall portrait for your living room, you will need to find a photographer who sells them. So it's worth looking at the products that they sell. If you're a DIY kind of person and you want the freedom to do whatever you want with your images, you will want a photographer who will sell you copyright permission for their files. This kind of thing should be obvious from their website.

Make sure you hire someone that can communicate and answer questions for you. I never mind when a client wants to chat. I also have a pre-session consultation with my clients, either on the phone or in person, so that I can get to know them better and answer their questions. If you are emailing or calling a photographer who seems put off by your questions, that might be a red flag for you to consider.

I hope this is some help to you, as you navigate through all the photographers out there! There are lots of great ones - I'm sure you can find someone you will love.

If this was helpful to you, you can sign up for my email list, and I'll send more information about custom photography your way . 

Subscribe to my mailing list 

 

Or, see this page for other ideas about how to make your portrait session the best that it can be.