This is family.
I am big on capturing life during my lifestyle sessions. Of course I aim to get a shot of everyone looking at the camera but once that is done, it's time to be a family! Families are not perfect or clean. They are messy and wild!
Kids are unpredictable and the best thing that parents can do during their family sessions is to roll with it.
(and bring snacks!)
Last year I did The Gillis family's photos around the same time of year. Maeve wasn't not yet walking and Callum was.. well, pretty much the same except this year he was PUMPED! He was ready to run along the trail at Frog Pond Park, find treasures (and sweetly share them with me!), and be a major HAM for the camera which made everyone else giggle and make for some really special moments! And his little sister was his shadow the entire time.
We hit a point where things could have turned bad but Heather had a couple of apples that helped to bring the kids back to life for a "grand finale" of sorts and got the kids back to the car without any major meltdowns!
There is always a possibility that kids will get upset, tired, hungry or just not love the camera and the stranger behind it and that is a-okay!
Parents should plan for the worst and hope for the best as well as conjure up as much patience as possible.
Being little is hard, I should know.. I am only 5'1 and shrinking, haha!
But seriously, don't stress over your family photos and wanting them to be perfect - just have fun and make memories with your kids!
Bonus: this is the time that BOTH parents are in photos and not just one who takes all the family photos and is never in the shots!
This isn't even the full gallery from a 30 minute session.. the more fun you have, the more moments will be captured!
