Tips for a Stress Free Family Session!
The biggest stressor I see with family sessions is parents worried that their children are not smiling at the camera. But I can assure you that they do so much better without the constant pressure to do so! That's when we get the fake smiles and not so happy tears. Allow them to be kids! I like to start my family sessions by getting a few posed ones- everyone smiling looking at the camera, mom with the kids, dad with the kids, just the kids, maybe some individual shots and then I love to let the kids explore! This allows them to feel more comfortable and make for an overall better experience. So with that being said, a few tips that can also help for a stress free family session are-
- Booking the session around their schedule, ensure they are fed & well rested!
- Arrive early to allow yourselves to get situated and let the kids get acclimated to the location
- Bring some reinforcements whether that's a favorite toy, snacks or some bribery candy :)
- Don't stress about getting them to look at the camera and smile, as long as you always have a happy face on and are looking at them like they're the cutest thing in the world, which I'm sure they are! Those make for the best photos. Genuine, authentic and much more natural!