Most meaningful location for your family photo session: Your home!
I love photographing families in places and locations with are special and meaningful to them. I also like exploring new locations with families, but especially if your kiddos are very young or it’s our first time meeting working together— your home is the best location! The kids are comfortable and we can plan our time together around an activity that you enjoy doing as a family!
Step one: Plan your photo session around an activity you all love doing together:
Think about the activities your family enjoys together. Having an activity to do together will help you relax and forget about the camera. Activities help engage little ones, and bring out authentic smiles.
Maybe it’s cooking, gardening, playing a kite, a bedroom dance party! Or for older kids, playing catch, piggy back rides, races, are great activities that allow children to have fun and be themselves. I can capture beautiful and authentic photos when kids are doing what they love.
Step Two: Remember to look at your children - really look at them and smile!
Yes. I mean really look at them. Breathe them in like the first time your baby was placed in your arms. Hug them and kiss them. Think of how much you love them, even if they’re not cooperating. In fact, even when they’re not cooperating, keep smiling. Smile lovingly at your partner too - think look at the beautiful, messy life we’ve created together.
When parents’ eyes are on their children, they give the most natural, relaxed and beautiful smiles. As a mom, I cherish these types of images the most and I hope you will too because they portray your family’s connection and love.
Remember, not everyone has to be looking at the camera at the same time in every image. In fact, if you’ve hired me for a lifestyle family session, you know this is not the goal of your session. The goal is to interact with your loved ones.
Step Three: Relax and have fun! (I promise this will be more fun than you’re anticipating)
You got your family dressed and ready and the house is semi-cleaned. Congratulations! I know it isn’t easy. Now it’s time to relax, have fun and enjoy spending time with your loved ones. Let me do all the work. Hey, that’s why you hired me.
I’ll handle all the directing and if your toddler needs some time to run around, no problem. I’ll capture a few shots of you and your spouse. I find that giving kids a few moments to explore, while I focus on other family members often makes them want to be part of the picture.
We’ll play games and I’ll guide you into genuine interactions with your family. You’ll snuggle, hold hands, laugh, play, give hugs and kisses, and tickle your children. I’ll show you that your children and your family are beautiful, just as you are!
Hello there and thank you for stopping by! I’m Katrina, the heartbeat behind Fifty Two Hundred Photo + Film, in Durham, North Carolina. I specialize in capturing meaningful and precious memories for remarkable families in North Carolina. I hope you enjoyed this story I shared today and if you are interested in learning more about The Time Capsule membership, or let’s connect. Not quite ready to connect, but you would like to follow along the journey? Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Katrina is a family photographer and family filmmaker in Durham, North Carolina. She offers lifestyle newborn photography, family photography and family videography which focuses on capturing authentic and honest moments for families. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. She is happy to custom albums so you can revisit your favorite memories for years to come! Be sure to check out the Adobe partnership to see Katrina sharing her knowledge on capturing magical light to highlight the essence of each family.
Want an easy way to make something beautiful out of all your phone photos and videos? Learn more about the Time Capsule Membership here.