Okay, so I'm gonna get REAL here for a second...
As a parent, having to coordinate my children and husband to do a task (insert photo session here) that no one signed up for and despises...triggers alllll the ANXIETY. Parents, I know you feel me. I guarantee you have probably thrown out all the bribes to your children in the car ride on your way to said session. You know the phrases..."If you listen and are good, we'll get you ice cream", or "Just give me one good photo, that's all I ask"….who knows, you and your spouse/partner might have even been a little terse with each other because you didn't get out the door in time causing everyone to get flustered…..soooooo there might have been a silent treatment going on, maybe, maybe not. And yes, that was the longest run on sentence but I don't care. If that's not you and your family, then I just made it REALLY awkward revealing my own lol. Unfortunately, perfection does not exist over here nor will it ever! It's funny because I preach to my family clients to just look at this as going on an adventure (literally, it might even be the best way to describe this for younger children), we're going to go play and meet a new friend and have lots of fun. And I probably should heed my own advice and life would be much easier. But luckily for you, that anxiety does not trickle over into my photographer role. First, I really encourage parents to take deep breaths and just let your children BE. It can be a lot for a child to meet a new obnoxious person with this big bulky camera in their face, so it can take time to get acclimated and feel comfortable. I promise you, they're not stressing me out. It's just you or you and your spouse. I get kids. I have 4 of them. And I have photographed TONS of them. I want to see their personalities, I want them to show me all the things. Secondly, when your children are not being forced to do something, there aren't tears and there aren't stressed and tensed looking faces in your final images. Children sense everything. You don't want to look back at an image and be like, wow, we all really disliked life at that moment. The ultimate goal is for you to look back at an image and smile and think how much fun you had. Not to just have this perfect magazine image. Your kids will only go running and playing and be mesmerized by rocks and sand for a short amount of time in your life. Let your images show who they are, not what you're forcing them to be. Lastly, when you encourage their adventurous spirit, they'll most likely NOT categorize this "task" as something dreadful—you want your children to tell you that it was the BEST time ever. I know I do!!
The Agno family brought their adventurous hearts and is a perfect example of the fun and joy I wish to capture in all of my sessions!
