One of the best things about custom photography is creating sessions to meets each client’s unique needs. When meeting before a session to plan all the details, I always spend time talking about how wardrobe and location help tell the story of each family. Sometimes this means choosing an adventurous location, but for this family lifestyle session with older children, their own yard provided an intimate and personal feel. Plus, their yard happens to look like a beautifully landscaped park!
During our Pre-session Consultation, I was able to walk around their yard and scope out some potential spots for their portraits. However, the best spots tend to reveal themselves as the session unfolds. On the afternoon of this early spring session, the light spilling over the trees created a beautiful golden glow, providing an exquisite backdrop.
After our consultation, I love that these boys were given few wardrobe guidelines based on what we had discussed, and allowed them to choose clothing that coordinated with their parents, while at the same time staying true to their individual personalities. At our Image Reveal Session as we laughed about some of their facial expressions and her youngest son’s clothing choice, this laid-back mom said, “That is so him!”
Lifestyle family sessions with older children present a unique challenge in that the kids may not be as enthusiastic about snuggling up to have their pictures taken with their parents as younger children tend to be. No worries! I began with a few simple prompts to allow them to relax into the session, and just be with together in a natural way.
When I asked the boys to play with their dog (a beloved member of their family!), and they realized this was not going to be as bad as they originally thought.
Then, when I asked them to grab a basketball and play with each other while I focused on capturing some moments with Mom and Dad, the boys were really in their element. As a photographer, these are the moments I live for. I did not pose them. I found some beautiful light and placed them in it, and let things unfold naturally. Here, the while the focus is on the connection between mom and dad, his loving embrace and her energy and strength, these images authentically tell the story of their family at this moment in time.
Upon first viewing these images, mom said “This is the best photo we have ever had of the two of us!”
Finally, we brought the boys back with mom and dad for a few moments of rest on their beautiful stone step landscaping before gathering them all in on the grassy knoll in front of their house as the sun dropped below the trees. This image in black and white, with everyone wrapped in dad’s embrace and not looking at the camera, was their favorite and one of their choices for a wall art print.
Would you like a detailed step by step guide to how I help my clients choose a wardrobe for their session that looks coordinated (not match-matchy!) and helps to tell their story by reflecting their unique style?
Get a FREE copy of my 4 Step Wardrobe Planning Guide!
In later emails, I will also share things to consider when choosing a location (and my favorite choices as a Portland family photographer), how to integrate props, and how to prepare your family for their session (including my approach to working with your kids!) for a relaxed family portrait experience.
Thinking about your own family lifestyle session with older children to capture your unique story?
Contact me today for a complimentary consultation!
