Three rambunctious brothers, mosquitoes the size of birds, and a muddy stream threatening every clean shirt and pair of shoes in our party.
That’s how our session began on a hot summer evening last July. They hadn’t taken family portraits since their youngest son, now 3, was born. All mom wanted was a few nice pictures of herself with her boys where nobody was wrestling or throwing punches. Was that so much to ask?
She shared her anxiety with me from our first conversation. Worried her boys would be too much to handle and we’d leave the session without any photographs worth keeping. It was the reason she had waited so long to book a session for her family.
Sessions like these are some of my favorites to photograph. Is there chaos at times? Yes. Does it occasionally get a little crazy and need reigning in? Yes. But these are the moments when their personalities are shining through. That split second where two brothers have their arms around each other’s shoulders for a pose but then can no longer resist the temptation to shove one another and the resulting giggles and smirks are priceless reminders of their childhood relationship and the bond between them.
The key is keeping them distracted enough that they forget they’re being photographed.
Doing a few poses and then asking them to do something fun. “Ok stand next to your brothers and look at me. Now look at each other but don’t laugh. First one to smile is a rotten egg. Now who can run and touch that fence post the fastest? Ready, go!” And just like that we got two different poses and a couple candid shots without them even realizing!
The bottom line is this: a professional photographer will know how to interact with your kids and keep them busy so that they don’t even notice the camera.
We’ll be too busy playing games (and maybe cracking fart jokes. I have no shame when it comes to making 8 year old boys laugh) to worry about forcing smiles and standing still.
So mamas, if you’re putting off a family portrait session until your kids are older and “better behaved”- don’t. Don’t miss this chance to capture the beauty in the chaos. Don’t stress about a meltdown or an uncooperative toddler and miss the opportunity to stop time for a moment and keep them little. To remember the way he would collapse in a fit of giggles when you tickled the back of his leg. Or how she liked to put her hands around your neck and play with your hair while you held her.
These are the memories you’ll want back after they are grown and why documenting these moments is so precious.
About the photographer: Ashley is a photographer at Bluebird Photography where she has been delighting clients for nearly two years by capturing their genuine, real life moments and preserving them as treasured art for years to come. She has a background in engineering and business and is mommy to two sweet (but crazy) toddlers. Photographing children and families is her passion as well as delivering a personalized and full service experience. Find more of her work on the Web.
