Session Three: Families are Silly

I absolutely loved working with this family! I might be the tiniest bit biased because we are related (and they fed us beforehand), but these kids were packed full of personality and laughs.

This was one of my favorite locations because it was at their beautiful house and yard (with farm animals included!). I loved asking the kids about their favorite animals and seeing their surprised expressions when my husband made faces behind me.

 Working with older children was more difficult than the younger babies (when I just had to shake a rattle for them to look) because I was forced to be more of an entertainer. And believe me, they would let me know if my jokes weren't funny.

And when I said, "Only five more pictures, I promise! I need you to help me count!" They would count with me until we reached five and then they were done. My final and favorite shot came AFTER I had finished the five pictures and the kids stopped posing and smiling.

I saw this photograph as the essence of family life. Families (especially children) are anything but posed and perfect angels. Families are rowdy. Families are silly. 

Families are so full of love that even when your kids are climbing all over you during family pictures, you manage to smile and say, "Bring it on!"

Session Two: Play is Best

My schooling in early childhood education has instilled in me a great love for play as a form of learning. Now as a photographer working with children, all I want to do is play with my clients! I want to get messy, run around, and have genuine and silly fun as we go.

After having a few sessions under my belt, I felt ready and confident for this session with more sweet young boys. Because I knew I wanted to capture real smiles and real fun, my clients suggested their favorite local park for our location. The huge trees and colorful playground were the perfect background for our relaxed family session.

This family was all about smiles and having fun (and basketball!). This little guy even showed me how to "swoosh" the ball a few times!

I loved every freezing (silly Utah, it's June!) minute of this natural lifestyle session. I felt so much more comfortable when I was just there capturing smiles instead of posing and pushing. 

I'm excited to share my favorites from another lifestyle family session next week. Stay tuned!

Session One: Kids Don't Sit

This sweet family is one of my favorites in the neighborhood and they were my first volunteers after I offered free sessions to my friends and family. I was so pumped to spend the evening playing and being silly with these two adorable, energetic boys! We chased bubbles, colored with chalk, and even scooted on skateboards.

After sending the big brothers to play, I spent a few quiet moments with the six month old little sister, who is absolutely precious! Plus, check out the gorgeous dark hardwood floor and the amazing natural light in their living room. (Can this be my studio? Pretty please!?) 

And while admiring the floor just try to resist this little darling and those sweet cheeks!

This was a perfect way to start off my string of free sessions. Although I was nervous at first, they welcomed me into their home and let me be silly and learn as I went.

I left a wiser person, knowing that you need to bring your A-game when photographing kids because they sit still for no one.

 

(And if they do sit, it is on accident and they make sure 

you don't catch them smiling.)