Session FAQ and Excuses

“What should our family wear? All the same color? White shirts and khaki pants? What about the kids?”

We always tell our clients – where what makes you feel comfortable. When you feel comfortable, you look comfortable and happy! Trying to be stuffy and overdressed for a session is no fun at all, for you or for us. So do yourself a favor, and just be you. Wear everything your mom told you not too! Wear stripes and plaids and layers, have fun with matching different colors for kids. Wear cute jackets, shoes, and hair bows. You can be stuffy when you get your photos done at Olan Mills or Kmart. We are about capturing your family just as it is: happy and in the moment. Wear your favorite HUGE earrings, your cutest jeans, the cowboy boots your daughter refuses to take off! Florals, print tees, and layers are definitely in! Here are some of our suggestions for kids and parents:  Mini Boden, Matilda Jane, JCrew - two images courtesy of JCREW, TARGET.

“Where should we have pictures done?”

When thinking about a location for your shoot, do this: Think to yourself, is there a place that my family loves to be and have fun? Is there an interesting place up the street that would be so cute for pictures? Old buildings? Fields? Barns? Your own home? Playgrounds? So many times, parents want pictures of their kids with blooming flowers behind them that they forget that the pictures that they value the most of their kids are the ones where their personality is shining through. It’s the photograph of your kids giving the biggest laugh or smile that really touches your heart in ways a posed, forced “cheese” photo will never do. So pick a place. Have a picnic. Bake cookies with your kids and have us come photograph it. Be creative. Bring props! Use your own backyard! Bring a wagon! We are up for anything!

“How long does the session take?”

It lasts about 1-2 hours depending on subjects. Sometimes it takes us longer to get kids to warm up to us, and that’s fine! And other times, we are in and out in less than an hour. We just take our time and try to get the best shots possible of you and your family!

“My kids are crazy: the terrible twos or the dreaded tweens. I’m so sorry”

Just relax. Forcing kids to do what YOU want will never, and I repeat never, give you the kind of pictures that you want. Saying, “Look Johnny! Smile Susie!” This will just frustrate your kids and you and then nobody is interested in taking pictures anymore. We are champion distracters of children and will get down and dirty for the real smiles we are looking for. Just take a deep breath – and let your kids be who they are for us. There’s no need to impress us; we have seen it all! Kids will throw tantrums and not want to show their teeth. It’s inevitable. They will refuse to smile, even when things are funny. Let them show us their missing teeth if they want too, have hair in their face, let them drool - let them just be! Its what it all about...the perfectly un-perfect.

“We are not very photogenic.”

We hear this about every time we photograph someone. And the truth is, when you relax and just have a good time with us, you will find that your pictures reflect that. Looking and feeling happy and relaxed, can do wonders for your photogenic qualities! So do it!

“When I lose 10 lbs, I’m gonna get our family pictures done.”

Listen up Moms everywhere! I was reading a blog of one of my favorite photographers and she just had a post entitled, “Is there a perfect time?” And she had these fantastic words to share.

“Its easy to say – I’m too fat.

I have too much going on.

We’re too busy.

Maybe next year.

But I just want to say STOP IT! We need to take the time to appreciate the value of family photos, if not for ourselves (because we’re too fat or whatever), then for our children.  In 20 years, your children are not going to say, “I really love this photo of my family but I wish my mom had waited until she lost some weight. We never know what tomorrow will bring our way. And life is quickly racing by…”

Life's about LIVING, not about waiting. Book your family session today!