Why It’s Important to Capture photos at All Stages of Your Life
Recently I was going through my photo collection, and I realized that I had absolutely zero up to date photos of my parents and grandparents. It made me sad, because I’m starting to notice they’re aging and realizing how fleeting time is. As someone that loves picking up a camera, I was kind of surprised that I had let this happen. Then and there I really made the decision to change that. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of photos so that in years to come I could look back and remember my parents the way that they are right now.
I think its easy to get caught up in feeling like some stages of our lives aren’t worthy of capturing. We get busy, life gets stressful, kids, work, and other responsibilities take up our time. In the middle of it all we get older, and that seems to be such a taboo topic in our current society. Most people don’t want to see the physical proof of aging, and they sure don’t want it to be captured in a camera. So we start to shy away from the camera, because we feel as though if we aren’t in our 20s and at our prime, we aren’t worthy of capturing that stage of our life.
What people fail to realize is there is so much beauty aging, and though the circumstances that can arise with growing in life can be hard and feel unworthy of capturing, they are absolutely worthy. The journey you take in life makes you who you are, and photographs can be good reminders for what we were going through and feeling at the time that they were taken. Not to relive the hurt or struggle later, but to see the growth and remember just how much things change with time.
I love seeing my family members in their glory days, before me and when their lives were so different. But I also want memories to be captured of the people that I’ve grown up seeing, who they I know them to be and who they continue to evolve to be as we go through life together. Because I know that one day my memory won’t be enough, and generations to come are also going to want to get a glimpse into what life was like for us all before they knew us.
So lately I’ve been rounding everyone up and not only casually snapping shots at family gatherings, but making sure that I capture beautiful portraits of them too. They’re usually simple and quick, but I already know how important they are. And for as uncomfortable as I am in front of the lens, I’ve been making sure that I’m including a few of myself as well. I know I’ll rediscover them again in a few years and be thankful that I did. And I’d like to encourage you to do the same. A 30 minute portrait session is worth the time stamp that it serves as for years to come. Don’t be afraid of the wrinkles or dark circles or few extra pounds. These things are part of being human, and vividly tell a story when we capture them on camera.
How I Get Genuine & Smiling Faces From Kids During Family Sessions
It’s a parents nightmare, and why most are hesitant to schedule family photo sessions at all. The session starts, everything is well & good, but after a few photos your kiddos are completely over it. The smiles get awkward, they get frustrated, and then the meltdowns start. This kind of thing can quickly derail a family session, overwhelm the parents, and it all shows on your face when you get the photos back. But I promise you, it can all be avoided. How, you may ask?
I have 3 beautiful godchildren, and between them all, many many years of experience figuring out what does and doesn't work when trying to photograph them. I’ve seen every melt down, bad smile, & totally over it all face you could imagine, and I’ve got it down to a science now on how to make sure none of those things become an issue during our sessions.
So listen up.
Don’t Force them to take the Picture
Kids are human just like us adults. Sometimes, they just aren’t feeling the pictures and I cannot blame them for that one bit. As much as I love being behind the lens, when I’m on the other side its a much different story. So I will never, ever force a kid to take a picture. If they say no, then we move on photograph someone or something else, and don’t make a big deal about it. And ever time, that response is exactly what they need to hear. They’ll take a minute for themselves, but then decide to join in when they see that 1) no one is going to get angry and make them feel bad for it and 2) everyone else is having fun with the pictures, so might as well see what it’s all about.
Don’t Over Pose and Over Direct
I’ve met kids that have big, beautiful, award winning smiles on demand. I’ve also met kids just like my god daughter that when told to smile, end up looking like Anthony Hopkins “fava beans” gif from Silence of the Lambs. It’s comical, and bless her heart she has no idea how or why she’s doing it, but it doesn’t make for a great family photo. So the best approach I’ve found is to turn it into something fun. Distract them in the moment, try to help them forget they’re even taking a picture. Whether that’s playing a game, saying a silly word, jamming to their favorite music, or using their siblings to entertain them. This not only gives you that natural, bright smile, but it also helps them feel more comfortable and they’re way less likely to burn out within the first few minutes of shooting.
and lastly,
Let them Get Involved
Kids are curious by nature, and the more you involve them in the process, the more trusting and comfortable they will be around you. I like to have kids help me make mom and dad smile, & maybe even let them take a few clicks with the camera themselves. Often they like to see their pictures right after you’ve taken them, and I’m happy to oblige and give lots of words of affirmation. That’s how I get relaxed, confident kiddos in my sessions, and the results are always fantastic.
So it’s really not hard. You’ve just got to let go a little bit, don’t micro manage and try to perfect your whole session. Humans were not made for perfection. When you can let go of the “perfect shot” in your mind, you start getting the most authentic shot. And that my friends, is what this is all about. Capturing the real and raw human experience, & creating timeless memories. So the next time your photographing those cool as heck kiddos and things start to go off the rails, take a deep breath and remember to give them room to breathe and a chance to trust you. It will make all the difference.
Want to know more about booking a family session?
How to Prepare for Your at Home Portrait Session
At home sessions- I love them, and encourage them! They’re intimate, authentic, and raw. They’re really, really good for creating images that are true to a person’s character. They’re also great for someone who doesn’t enjoy taking photos in public spaces, but isn’t looking for a studio portrait either. But, there are a few things that you should do to make sure that the session goes smooth for not only the photographer, but yourself also.
1.Make sure your space is clutter free
I know- it is not authentic or realistic to expect that someone’s home is pristine and perfect on a daily basis. The reality is, most of our homes (including mine) are busy, a little messy, what I like to call, lived in. And that’s perfectly fine! But for this session, its important that the unnecessary clutter is cleared out. This is because it will be the first thing to stand out and cause a distraction in your photos if not. We tend to forget the little things that are messy or out of place when we live with them day to day, so imagine you’re going into someone else’s home to help them prepare and use that to tidy up your space. Now, if you are not a minimalist that loves clean, crisp backgrounds, by all means do not change your space to that. I myself am a lover of knickknacks, books, floral arrangements, basically anything you can decorate your home with. So for my home sessions, I don’t change those things, because they’re a part of who I am. But I do pick up the random sock on the floor, the morning coffee cup still on the table, and any piled up junk from my counter tops. The unnecessary clutter is what we don’t want, but if its a part of your personality and can tell a bit about you, absolutely don’t change it. This also applies to any space that you want to use outside. In fact, I find that clutter outside shows up even easier than inside, so make sure that you’re prepared for that ahead of time also.
Clearing out your space ahead of time saves your photographer time from having to stop and move things during your session, and makes the whole day run smoother.
2.Keep it professional
As photographers, we know that photographing someone in their own space is only possible because you trust us. It can be a little unnerving having someone come into your home, a safe space that you love, and photograph it. We know that it requires a level of respect, professionalism, and sensitivity to do, and speaking for myself I will always give my clients that. But, the respect should go both ways. Remember that as nervous as you may be for them to come into your home, they are probably just as nervous to be there, especially if you don’t know each other on a personal level. You guys have a mutual responsibility to make each other feel as comfortable and valued as possible, and if you both fulfill that responsibility, you are guaranteed to have a wonderful session.
3.Have fun with it!
The whole purpose of these home session is to showcase who you truly are. If you’ve done the two previous steps in this list, then you’re all set up for success. All you need to do is remember to have a good time! Put on some music, maybe make a cup of tea or coffee, and relax. These types of sessions aren’t supposed to be stiff and posed, they’re meant to express the comfort and sense of self that you get from being in your home.
So that’s it friends. I know that if you do these 3 things, your home session will not only run smoothly, but you’ll also get more out of it than you could have ever imagined. These steps are really going to help your photographer give you images that people will look back on years from now and say “Wow, this speaks to who they were perfectly.” If you’ve got any other questions about how home sessions work, don’t be afraid to send me an email, I’m here to help.