I met up with the Beck family on a beautiful fall evening at Hansell Park in Doylestown, PA. Like most parents with young children, their goal was to get ONE good picture with everyone looking and smiling. With two energetic boys, in the evening, heading towards bedtime, I knew that keeping them excited and happy about the shoot was essential. And we did get those traditional snapshots, the whole fam in front of the pond, playing games, and having fun with Mom & Dad. But we also got so much more!
We met at the park entrance and I invited the boys to join me on an adventure to explore the park. As we toured around the picturesque surroundings, we took short breaks to capture some beautiful shots. They loved running on a foot bridge and exploring through the woods.
My favorite parts of shoots with young kids are the moments that I let them guide what we capture. These boys were so excited and proud to choose their own spots in the park where they wanted their individual photos taken, which turned out beautifully. Then we had a whole photo series of “mountain climbing” exploration. Maybe these silly shots aren’t the ones then end up blown up on your walls, but these are the moments that keep your kids happy and engaged in the session.
Giving a few minutes to let them have fun, make some of their own decisions, and feel some agency over the session pays off in spades and helps them look forward to the next time you have photos done.
If your experiences in the past with getting your family photos taken had been stale, lackluster, or even a nightmare, or they just didn’t capture the fun and character of your family, I would love to have the opportunity to work with you to so we can capture the things that make your family, your family.
