After a long season of weddings, it’s time to get booked with family sessions! I loooveee family sessions. For Ella photography, it only recently started becoming popular, especially with the In-Home sessions. In-Home sessions are when I come to your home and document your life as a family for 1-2 hours. We can play games, enjoy a book, go play ball outside in the yard, eat lunch or even prepare for bed. Anything that shows the world how your family interacts with each other. There is no posing or special instructions for these sessions. I’m there to photograph YOU. For most families, however, the idea of having a professional photographer there and being in front of the lens still makes parents a little nervous and worried that they will “fuck it up” – pardon my language.

I get emails all the time that say “Isa, what do I wear? How do I prepare my home or my kids for the session? TEACH ME!” Well.. today I answer these emails! I wrote up a Blog post explaining a few key points on how to “prepare” for the family session. This applies for In-Home sessions as well as outdoor sessions with Kids. Enjoy.

1) Unclutter the home

Having a stranger photograph your home can be intimidating at times, we understand. You bought and decorated your home, however, the idea of having someone over… all of a sudden, you hate everything your house has to offer. I know this because I NEVER have people over for this reason. This applies especially when you have young children. You don’t have TIME to clean your house from head to toe! It’s completely normal! I want you to remember one thing though… It’s like that for EVERYONE. Not just you. We (photographers) are there to concentrate on YOU. Not your house. We don’t care if it’s a little messy. And neither will the person seeing your photos. They will see your giggles and your hugs to each other. Not the fact that there’s a bowl of cereal on the kitchen table. Instead, think about uncluttering your house. This means moving any items that shouldn’t be in the room. Laundry in a basket on the floor, Coats on the sofa, Towels on the bed… Just grab all that stuff and put it in the rooms where it belongs. You’ll be able to tell if something is out of place in your photos. So just put it where it goes. More space for playing.

2) Prepare your kids by talking to them

Even though kids can act like babies from time to time, it’s important to know that they are also able to understand instructions. Kids will act like Kids if you treat them like kids. Confused yet? By preparing your kids DAYS in advance, there’s a greater chance that they will behave during your photo session. Talk to them like you would anyone and don’t underestimate their capability of understanding an important photo shoot. Sit your kids down and explain to them that you will go to a park for a photo session with – or will have in your home) a professional photographer. Explain to them that the session might take a while and be boring at times for them but it’s important to you that they behave, listen to the photographer and smile for the camera. Tell the truth. If this session is too give as a gift for grandma or an aunt, tell them about it and explain to them that it will be very special to the person to receive these photos. Communicating with your children is key to getting a great session. Talk to them about the session a few times in the upcoming days so that they remember that it’s going to happen and they can mentally prepare for the interaction with a stranger. Pick your outfits the day before TOGETHER so that they feel like they are involved in the process making them more excited about the shoot itself. During the session, if your kids start getting tired and want it to be over, talk to them and remind them that you all talked about this and you had mentioned that it would be boring and they agreed to make these photos for grandma (or mommy). By having a real conversation with your kids beforehand, they will have time to process the information, think about it, get excited about it thus giving you a better shot at having them cooperate for the smiling portrait moments at the beginning of the session before we start playing and running around.

3) Do not promise your kids anything

By preparing your kids in advance, it will be less likely that it will result in misbehaviour. This will prevent you from having to make the biggest mistake of promising something to your kids. I think it’s no secret. Kids are impatient. Yeck, I’m impatient. If someone tells me that I can get ice cream after supper… I WANT THAT ICE CREAM NOW!  They are just so yummy. Promising your kids toys or candy during a photo session will make them want that promise more than EVER making them impatient and cranky. A promise will make their thoughts focus on something other than the photo session which will make your photos look difficult and awkward. Kids only really grasp the concept of time around the age of  5-8 (when they are surrounded by life events that require scheduling such as school and activities) So it’s only normal that they wouldn’t understand what “In 1 hour” means. If you promise them something, they’ll want it NOW. “Smile to the camera and I’ll give you candy” will result in a quick smile which the photographer will never have time to capture followed by crying because THEY DID WHAT YOU ASKED and you still didn’t give them candy. Instead, prepare your kids by talking to them and SURPRISE them at the end of your session (without saying anything about it prior) with a trip to the ice cream place on the way back home because there were such a big kid about the whole experience. They will love you forever.

4) Have activities prepared

So your kids are mentally prepared and they are excited about the shoot. Awesome. Now, time to schedule how your photo shoot will go. If you are having an In-home session, it’s important to have a few activities prepared so that the shoot doesn’t revolve around your kids watching cartoons for the hour. If you love to read together, prepare his/her favourite book and read it together on your bed. Just make sure it’s not a novel… we only have an hour. If he loves to play with trucks, play with him for a bit. Another idea would be to prepare lunch together and eat or make cupcakes. If the baby needs to go for a nap, let’s do that toward the end of the session. That’s always an intimate moment for parents and it’s a good thing to photograph as it’s part of your daily rituals. If it’s snowing outside and you all love to make snowmen, let’s do that. If watching TV together is your “thing” let’s prepare a snack together and coffee for Mommy and Daddy and go watch a cartoon show before your photographer leaves. Or even get your little one prepared for a bath and bedtime after playing with his toys together. The goal is to capture what you do during your days so … wait for the photographer and let’s do it all together. Just be sure to know what you want to do so that it’s less stressful on your end trying to “think of something”. If the family session is at a local park, pick a park that you love to go to together so that your kids are familiar with the premises and we can go for a walk first and play on the swings after. Or, bring your favourite book and a blanket to the park so we can read it together there.

5) Find outfits that are comfortable

The times of standing nicely seated and smiling to the camera in Sunday clothes are over. Our interest as photographers is to capture the beauty that is your family being yourselves. When picking outfits, pick something that is comfortable for your little one to run around in and get dirty if they feel like it. They are kids. They will play dirty and run around like maniacs. So dress them up how they love to dress up. No need to match all together but instead, coordinate your clothing. I have an inspiration board on Pinterest if you are interested. Pick your kids clothing FIRST and then coordinate your own afterwards.

6) Take the time to get dressed and make yourself feel awesome

Moms listen… Life is hard when you have a little one. I wouldn’t know by experience but I see it all the time. You hardly have time to get your kids up in time for school much less get dressed yourself. Who even FEELS like it right? Arg, annoying. But for the shoot, you deserve it. This is a professional family session. You paid for someone to come into your home and take photos of your little family. You owe it to yourself to get ready and feel good about yourself before they show up. Take the time to do your hair and do your makeup so that you won’t feel tired and “gross” during your family session. I say gross because that’s the term all my friends use after a day of being an awesome mom. Am I forgiven? Ok, awesome. Put daddy in charge that morning to get the kids fed and dressed and take time for yourself. Your photographer will want you relaxed and ready to laugh out loud for the camera. Your kids WILL be running around the house and showing your photographer this toy and that toy and this book and “Oh wait, come see this bear”. It will get you a little overwhelmed. So start your morning correctly and take an hour for yourself to take a shower, prep and get your energy up. Taking the time to get ready will make you feel awesome and will put you in gear to take on the world, I promise. If you are hiring a photographer to only take photos of your kids, get ready anyways. I PROMISE you, you’ll want a few photos with them after you see how much fun they are having.

7) Let the photographer do the talking

Photographers are pros. Chances are, they photographed many many more families before yours. They know what works and what doesn’t while talking to kids. When directed, kids will have a tendency to want to challenge their parents as much as possible. But will want to IMPRESS strangers. So, let the photographer (the stranger) talk to the kids and ask them where to look and how to act. When in a portrait session with kids in my studio, I will often ask the parents to leave the room so that I can talk one on one with the kids. It’s much easier. With a stranger, kids tend to get more of a filter on and listen to directives. Almost like in school. We know what we are doing. Step in only when you see that your kid is becoming a little tired from the session and will soon require their mommy and daddy. You just think about smiling and let the photographer find a creative way to make your kids smile for the camera

8) Do not give your kids something to play with to “keep them quiet” …

…unless you want it to be in EVERY photo. To your kid, a photographer is a stranger to your house. They do not understand that you invited this person over to take photos. They just think this person happens to have a camera. They might become self-conscience about the fact that they have someone they don’t know in their face for an hour or two. By giving your baby a pacifier or a blanky or “that toy they love so much”, they will most likely grip that thing and never let it go for reassurance. You will NOT be able to take that thing away for a few photos without them going into a fit. It’s normal. They feel uncomfortable. If they start to get “antsy” and annoyed, talk to them normally, ask THEM to show you their favourite toy or ask them for a hug or a kiss. Don’t ask them to smile for the camera, or give them directives to derive their attention. Making them forget that they are there to do a job (smiling for the camera) will get them much more relaxed and willing to cooperate than asking them to do things for the photographer. Just grab their attention with everyday things.

Try to avoid asking them to show the PHOTOGRAPHER their favourite toy however because your kids might direct all their attention to them and forget about mommy and daddy. Mind you, it’s super cute and I love it when they show me their favourite toys.. however, The photographer should be invisible to the session. If a specific toy is important to the session because you want the memory of how “They use to carry that thing everywhere”… introduce it towards the end of the session or when it doesn’t bother you anymore that it will be in every shot. The goal is to get their attention with YOU as much as possible for that they forget that they are in a photo session.. not with their blanky. Don’t give them time to think about the fact that they are shy or self-conscience and make them want to grab that security blanket. When all else fails, tickle.

9) Smile

This is for you, parents! A photographer is coming into your home to photograph your family. Not to get formal portraits. I’ve said it before… Those days are over. Let your kids be kids. If they like to run around and scream at the top of their lungs for no reason.. let them. My brother does that all the time. Screams. For no reason. He’s 28 years old. This is your family. EMBRACE IT. No family is perfect. NONE. Concentrate your energy on smiling and laughing for the camera. Look at your kids, play with them, run around with them, and ENJOY THEM. Don’t get stressed out and depressed because your kids are being themselves. It will show in your photos that you aren’t happy. Parents often have a tendency to want the perfect little portrait of their family and will get overwhelmed when their little one doesn’t act like a perfect little gentleman. Here’s a little secret though. That perfect little portrait …. it doesn’t exist. Why would you want a formal portrait of your family if your kids NEVER sit still in real life anyways? Wouldn’t you rather remember them as they were? Don’t worry about the photographer. They love to run around after your kids. We are so used to it. Your kids will have a better time at the session if you run around WITH THEM and you grab them and tickle them rather than telling them to STOP IT and come sit down. Don’t you think? If he’s being a Grump… Let him be a grump. If you ignore it and continue to have fun with your other kids or with Daddy.. He’s come back around VERRRYYY quickly. Promise. So laugh it out, run around and keep that smile on your face. And remember that you will have these pictures to show his girlfriends when he’s older. Everybody wins.

10) Have an extra helper on hand

A family session will last between an hour and three hours. At least with me. Depending on how it’s going. Sometimes I’m able to get everything I need in 1 hour.. sometimes it takes a little longer because of grumpiness or nap times. It’s ok with me. During that time, we can get a LOT done. Including getting photos of the baby alone, the kids alone and mommy and daddy alone. But most of the time, having a helping hand will be necessary to get all the photos we need. If you book a family session, ask a relative or a good friend to come along and “assist”. This means, holding the Dog while you get photos done of the family, watching Junior while we get a few pictures of daddy and mommy alone, calming the baby while we are trying to make cupcakes as a family with Junior or even helping to keep an eye on the bags while we run around together in the park. Having a helping hand will bring you peace of mind and keep everything (and everyone) safe when we have our attention elsewhere. It will also make things go A LOT faster making your kids need to be patient for a little less time.

BONUS – Get creative with another outfit

I allow my families to have two outfits during their sessions. Dress up a little for a few photos and then change to more comfortable outfits to continue the session. It’s fun! and it’s an activity to capture for the photographer. THERE’S NOTHING I LOVE MORE than when a family gets creative with their outfits. Does your kid love to dress up as a superhero? Find matching outfits and DRESS UP WITH HIM. How hilarious is that? Or, make your own outfits out of toilet paper while we photograph them. WHY NOT. it’s a fun game to play (If you do this, however, expect your kid to ALWAYS want to do this… every day). Getting two outfits into your session will give a different look to your photos without having to necessarily do anything different. It’s like two sessions in one sitting.

Lastly, just have fun! This is a documentary of your life as parents so embrace your sometimes-out-of-control children and your hectic life and let the photographer show you how beautiful it truly is looking in from the outside. We don’t care about the faces he makes and how loud she is screaming. Also, keep in mind that there is no WRONG WAY to a family session. These are just tips to help you ease your mind about the whole thing. I never came out of a session with a family and told myself “Damn… that really sucked” NEVER! Families are beautiful and a session with yours actually makes me want to run home and hug my puppies .. because that is mine :). During a session, we want your kids to be themselves so that you can remember them as they were, forever. That’s our only goal. NEVER will you ever look at a portrait and say “Oh yes, you were always sitting calmly like that and smiling for no reason… you loved that” Instead you will tell your teenagers “Yes, you would run around the house and show that toy to everyone. Man, you loved that thing. You also loved to pull your pants down for no reason.. it was a little odd.. but we still love you”.

By having a family session with a professional photographer and letting your kids be themselves, you’ll be able to show those photos to them (and their girlfriends) when they are older and have them remember it … forever.

Have a great session![:]