What’s meant to be a fun, memorable event can quickly become a stressful, panic-inducing nightmare. All too often people spend the day before their photo session running around with last minute preparations. Having your family’s photo taken by a professional is a unique experience, so it’s important to plan in advance to avoid any unnecessary stress. 

Talk to your kids beforehand

Kids are smart and they love feeling grown-up and informed. Get your children interested and involved by explaining the plans for the day. Show them the outfits you have picked out or let them be involved in the clothing selection process. Tell them Mr. Chris (a fun guy, lol) is coming over and that’s it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Decide on a reward

Sometimes a little bribery is necessary to make sure things go smoothly during your session. If you would like to try an extra incentive to keep your kids calm, pick a reward beforehand that you would be comfortable following-through with after the session is over. If your kids like ice cream for example, we can talk about using ice cream as a bargaining tool with the kids when they need to smile more, sit still, or pay attention. By the way, I always travel with bubbles, monkeys and other various props and rewards in order to get the children to focus. 

Ensure everyone is well fed and rested

Make sure to get as much sleep as possible, and don’t forget your breakfast and lunch depending on the time of the photo session. I dont travel with food because of allergies. Bring some extra goodies for the kids in case they get restless. Preserve your energy for the session so that everyone is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with smiling faces.

Trust ME!

I know how stressful it can be to get a family portrait done, but it doesn’t have to be that way! The first 15 minutes is the most important part of our session. It's when I get to know the family and gain trust with the children.  I love to interact with children and enjoy when kids get giggly, smile wide, or show off a little attitude—anything that shows off their true personalities. Trust me, I will follow THEIR lead. I will guide you through the process as well telling you what is going to happen during the next 45min. and make sure it is a memorable experience for all.