it's important to let kids be kids at a portrait session

It’s easy to have a preconceived idea of how a session will go, I have them too.

What we think will happen: the kids will come in, be in great moods because they took a good, long nap, they won’t be overwhelmed by what’s going on, not be afraid of the lights, or the camera, or me behind the camera. They’ll pose perfectly, look in just the right spot, and with the click of the shutter I’ll have made the portrait of a lifetime of your beautiful child/ren.

HA!

Here’s what usually happens: the kids get in the studio, look all around, get curious about/fearful of all the new things they’re seeing. They didn’t sleep well the night before and that nap they ALWAYS take? Well, that didn’t happen. They might seek security from mom and dad and try to avoid being photographed by wanting to be picked up. Sometimes they refuse to be put down. Sometimes they cry. Sometimes they won’t look at me. Sometimes they stick their tongues out. Sometimes they close their eyes tight. Sometimes they turn so all I see is their backs. Sometimes they’re so whacky parents don’t recognize their own child!

Guess what? It’s all normal.

Guess what else?

I love it because it’s just kids being their wonderful little selves.

Truly.

I’m one of six kids so I know a bit about childhood chaos–and how it gets worse the better behaved a child is expected to be!

Remember getting the giggles at the most inopportune time? It’s like that.

The most important rule in my studios is that they be spaces of fun.

I want your child to have a blast when they’re with me and if that means they need time to warm up and get settled in that’s fine by me. If it means they need a ‘mommy hug’ between photos I’m good with that. If they need a water break we’ll stop and let them get refreshed. And if they need a little snack that’s perfectly fine, too.

Things sometimes go completely off the rails and that’s usually when kids are having the time of their lives!

Trust me when I say this bothers parents far worse than it bothers me!

Sometimes kids just need to get their goofies out

When that I happens I just keep on making pictures because I know that though these aren’t the photos parents are expecting when they come for portraits they, too, are photos parents treasure…their kids being their MOST kid-like. With all the goofies, all the crazies, all the tackles, tickles and sometimes even tumbles.

What I’ve learned after photographing children for almost forty years is that kids do settle down, they do get comfortable, and they do work with me to create portraits you’ll cherish.

People tell me all the time they marvel at my patience.

It’s not patience to me–it’s a chance for me to be a kid all over again. And I love every second of it.