What’s a photography session with me like? // Family Photographers in Clintonville, Ohio
This is a topic I’ll probably continuously cover, since we as artists (and people) evolve over time, and I am no exception. Each year of photographing families in Clintonville, Ohio and the greater Columbus region teaches me new lessons about how to conduct my sessions and provide my clients with a fantastic experience.
Things you should know:
Every point of interaction with me is designed to put my client’s needs first.
Where will you be most comfortable? Let’s schedule your session there.
When will you be most comfortable? I will do everything I can to accomodate your schedule. I have experience shooting in ALL weather and times of day, and am confident I can deliver a beautiful gallery no matter when we meet.
What ordinary, everyday things do you love to watch your children do? Let’s capture that.
Do you love the idea of having all of your images put together in a gorgeous album? I’ll design it for you and deliver it to your door!
I’m invested in telling YOUR unique story. When I sit down to brainstorm your session and how it will flow, I use our consultation as a loose guide. Of course, every day is different and kids can change on a dime, so I always arrive ready to be flexible.
But what is the actual session like?
My sessions are a blend of documentary and lifestyle photography, or as I call it, “natural photography.” I try to start each session with several minutes of loosely posed images (I hate to use the P word, as I’m still looking for playfulness and connection in my posed images - nothing stiff and perfect). This gives me the freedom to experiment later on in the session, knowing I’ve captured the “Christmas Card” shot. We’ll play games that I know the kids like, snuggle together on the bed or a blanket, and incorporate activities into the session based on what we covered during the consultation. We’ll also say “poop” a lot (I’m okay with that P word!). When I sense a child is getting bored or doesn’t like one of my suggestions, I pivot and let them take the lead for awhile, catching documentary-style images. I always make sure to grab individual portraits of each child, all the siblings together, and just the parents, as well as all the in-between moments that make up the bulk of your story.
How long is a family photography session?
A typical one will run around one hour, although I am not strict about time. (Extended family sessions and newborn sessions will run longer, roughly two hours.) In home sessions can sometimes take longer because the kids will want to eat a snack or show me all of their toys and I am happy to oblige. Or sometimes we will walk from your house to your neighborhood park, which adds on time. I also like to take a few minutes to observe the lighting of the house before I begin taking photographs inside your home.
Generally an hour is enough time capture both “posed” portraits and documentary-style images that get to the heart of your story. It allows everyone time to loosen up and grow comfortable with me and my camera - I often find that my favorite images are from the last 15 minutes of a photo session when we’re at the point of being silly and having a lot of fun.
Think of this time as a date with your spouse and your family. How often do you have one uninterrupted hour of play without screens or other distractions? I can guarantee that your family will feel more connected afterwards. Bonus: you’ll be able to revisit that feeling when you view your images!
What if my kids don’t cooperate?
It’s okay. Yep, really and truly. I take a non-judgmental, patient, and laid-back approach to family photography. If your kids don’t want to sit and smile for a photo, that’s totally normal and fine by me.
I’ll focus instead on playing with them, learning about them, seeing what ideas they have (kids LOVE to share their photo ideas with me), letting them take a picture or two with the big camera, and at that point they’re usually good for a posed photo or two.
I also have a few tricks up my sleeve, like focusing on other family members to give them a break, busting out bubbles/candy/a silly book, or asking them to do the opposite of what I actually want them to do (“don’t you dare smile!”).
PS: I’ve been told that I’m incredibly patient and that kids love me (as evidenced by the hugs I get on my way out). I always take a minute to sit and chat with the kids, asking them to show me their favorite toy or tell me about their day. This builds trust, which goes a long way towards an authentic session with cooperative kiddos.
Prioritizing YOU and your partner
I always make time to get a few portraits of each parent and/or parents together. My hope is that these images will be printed and passed down to your kids, who will absolutely CHERISH having a photos of their parents. The best part is that I can save these for when the kids are ready for a break or until the very end of the session. Think of it as the icing on the cake ;)
Putting my clients first sometimes means setting my own ideas aside or artistic goals aside.
For example, golden hour is a popular time for sessions (and for good reason - the light is gorgeous), but if it falls a few hours after your toddler’s bedtime, trying to schedule your session at that hour is going to be a nightmare for all involved. Another example: I may have ideas for getting artsy and creative images of your family, but if I show up and your child is grumpy or not feeling well, you bet that I’m going to prioritize getting the money shots before moving on to more experimental shots.
I admittedly love a grumpy shot
What happens AFTER my family photography session?
Within 1-2 days of your session I’ll text a couple of “sneak peeks” to hold you over. I then spend time going through your images to select the very best ones to edit and put together in a preview gallery (typical galleries have 60-80 images to choose from). Once you view your images you get to decide which ones you like to keep forever and turn into beautiful artwork to hang on your wall or put in an album (I offer complementary album design services too - woo woo!). All of my products are gorgeous, one-of-a-kind heirlooms that will be cherished for generations.
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Looking for a family photographer in Clintonville, or want to chat further? Reach out, I’d love to hear from you!
