As parents, we all know how stressful it can be when planning for our family photos. Will our kids behave? Will I need to bribe them with treats? How can I keep my littlest from rolling around in the sand and getting his clothes dirty. I can feel the anxiety creeping up into my chest while writing this. We have all been there.

As a lifestyle family and motherhood photographer (and mother to three wild little boys of my own) I've discovered that family photoshoots can actually be so much fun and a great way to make memories in the moment. I think that the way most photographers and clients approach family photo sessions can make or break our experience.

In all of my family sessions with my clients, I do my best to make sure that their session is an experience--that I'm taking my time to capture a moment in their life here and now. As a photographer, I want to capture the essence of a moment, of a family, of a life. The truth is that the here and now with all of the complexities in our own stories--these are the most powerful. The layers of our lives are what make our stories magical and so beautiful.

If I haven't captured your heart yet. I hope that you stick around, breathe in your own story, and take a moment to help reframe what family photography could be.

Let There Be Play

Oh parents, if only I could tell you the light that I am able to capture in the eyes of a child and a parent at play. Bodies soften. Eyes widen. Minds are at ease. I know that you fear your child will lose it. That if you give them that one little inch of freedom you worry they will take a mile. What if I told you that the true magic of a family session is a family at play.

To them they see me, a stranger, holding a camera and telling them they have to listen. Let's change that narrative--flip the script. If we encourage play through tickles, tag, and loving tender moments that's when they feel the safety of your presence. I no longer become the stranger telling the child what they must do and rather I become friend. I become the one who is capturing the enormous amount of love that they feel in a moment.

I've captured so many magical moments between parents and children. Authentic, real, loving moments that would have been missed if we would have forced obedience and stillness.

Let There Be Movement

Have you ever known a child to gladly hold still and to smile for pictures? I mean I haven't and I've been doing this job a long time. Movement is our friend. I'll say it louder for those in the back-- MOVEMENT IS OUR FRIEND. In connection to play, I have found that by allowing movement our bodies look more relaxed and natural in photos. We all have that one photo that crosses our mind where our body is rigid, uncomfortable, and our smile is off and we can't bear to bring ourselves to look at it. Have you ever seen a photo of yourself with your natural laugh, your beautiful natural posture? Have you ever seen a moment held in time that you just want to savor?

In my sessions, movement is key. Movement is the magic. Of course, when I say this I always get the question, " will I receive any photos with us all looking at the camera smiling?" Yes! Of course you will, but I think you will find that in your gallery you will be mostly drawn to the moments of true authenticity because, friend, that's where the magic of your families story is.

So what do I mean by movement? An example of this can be snuggling, kids running around the adults as they hold a moment together, walking, running, dancing, and all of the things that bring out your families story. Who is your family? What makes you all you? What is unique to your family?

A Parents Love Story Matters, Too

Something that I encourage in all of my sessions is to let the kids play for a moment so that the parents can have a moment of connection. Your love story matters, too. It's the first thing I think we as parents throw out the window. This idea that we can schedule another session to capture "us", but the truth is that we often don't make time for it. We eventually forget and year after year we miss these beautiful moments of connection with our loved one.

These moments are some of my very favorite to capture because I see how it rekindles hearts. I see the playfulness that comes out. I see the joy and the softness and all of the things that without noticing gets swept aside because let's face it--parenting is hard and sometimes we just don't have a village to help us.

Moments of connection between parents become moments that get savored. Moments that we often forget that we need. Your story is their story. I can't tell just how much joy your kids will have seeing the love between you both.

In Everything Be You

Most importantly, allow your family to be exactly who they are during your session. Your layers, your personalities, your complexities, and uniqueness will shine so brightly if you do. Family sessions are more than just these moments of time where we dress up, stop, stand still, and smile at a camera. Family sessions are ways that we can capture a peek into a moment of time here and now so that as our story unfolds we can always come back and visit the moments that make us feel so alive.

Oh friend, I'm so thankful for you and your story. I hope that I was able to capture your heart and renew your view of what truly makes a family session magical. What are some of the things that can help make your story come to life during your next session?