Advice from a Carmel family photographer
I will help you be prepared.
Besides your beautifully styled self and your favorite people in the whole world, there are a few other things I would recommend you bring with you to your family session. Don’t worry about the beautifully styled part; I’ll help you with that all the way, and you can even read my blog post about it. As a Carmel photographer and a mama to 4 of my own, I have learned a few things about the necessities when it comes to your session.
1. Snacks
I mean, are you even surprised? I basically go nowhere without snacks. These could be emergency bribes—I mean, reward snacks for little ones. This can also help redirect them if they are a little upset or have to wait on a sibling to get their photo taken alone. Snacks also help to keep their energy up—not sure we need that with most kids—and help them not be hangry. Snacks as a reward are not beneath a teenager, either. Special dinners or ice cream treats are a reward for all ages after a job well done with capturing all the special moments.
2. Positive attitude
This is obviously a good thing to bring with you to a session. Dads are not always the biggest fans of a family session, BUT if they look at it as something they’re doing for their wives and kids, that might help them be more positive. When you’re preparing your kids, just tell them we’re going to have fun with Miss Jill—that’s me—and we will get a special treat after. Maybe park time or ice cream, like I mentioned above. Try not to have a lot of expectations of looking at the camera and smiling, etc. Using that sort of pep talk turns a fun night of making memories into work. I’m making sure we get those shots when it’s time.
3. Energy
During a session with me, we are playing games, dancing, and moving around a lot. This helps the kids to be excited, creates genuine expressions, and keeps it fun for everyone. Having moments like this of play and connection allows you to make memories while I capture them. It’s a win-win for this Carmel photographer and for you too.
4. A lovey or special toy
I included this one because it has helped so many of my little friends warm up to me very quickly. We have a little time to take some warm-up photos of their special friend, and a lot of times I let them help me get my camera set up and take a few photos themselves. It’s perfect! They are ready to get going after that and see all the fun we capture while we have a blast. Another benefit of having a special item with them is that it is a comfort if they do happen to get upset. These items deserve a spot in some family photos. One of my favorite pictures of my now 16-year-old son is him sucking his thumb with his favorite blue blanket. It is definitely a memory I do not want to ever forget.
5. Water & Bug Spray
I almost didn’t include this one because I bring bug spray, so this Carmel photographer’s got you, but this one is important for outdoor sessions. Maybe I will add water to what I bring as well, and then this one won’t make the list next time. For now, though, this is number 5. When we are out in nature, I always recommend using bug spray because we get into nature all the way. Those beautiful tall grasses are lovely in photos, and the bugs love them as much as I do. Having some water on hand for after is especially good on those hot nights where we all end up a little sweaty by the end.
Now that you know what to bring to your session, let’s talk about how to make this happen for your family this year. Telling your story will always be my favorite!
