This is a worry I hear over and over again. And I totally get it. Children are unpredictable! As well as being a Family Photographer in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, I am a mum of two. I was also a primary school teacher for 14 years so I’ve met a lot of children! Getting to know each individual child’s personality is one of my favourite things about my job.
‘I’m worried they’re not going to sit still for photos’
Honestly? That’s ok! This is exactly why my sessions are built around games. We race, we play, we jump. My favourite photos are the ones where they’re having so much fun, they’ve forgotten about the camera. My favourite locations for family sessions are quiet with lots of space to run. Perfect for children with lots of energy and parents who don’t want an audience!
‘She’s having so many tantrums at the moment. I’m worried she’ll have a melt-down during our session!’
Well.. she might well do. And do you know what? That’s absolutely fine. I’ve seen every tantrum going with my own children. In fact, I’m regularly still that mum with an exhausted, screaming child at the end of the school day! Bring along snacks, plan the session for a time when they’re not too exhausted and trust your photographer to have lots of tricks up their sleeve to coax them out of any grumpy moods. (Why is it always so much easier to do this with other people’s children? It’s so frustrating!)
‘He’s so shy. He hates having his photo taken.’
My time as a primary school teacher gave me so much experience with this. I send out a questionnaire before your session and this is one of the reasons. It really helps me to get to know your family a little before we meet. If your child takes a while to warm up, that’s absolutely fine. We’ll start with a few games where they only need to interact with you, not with me. We’ll take things at their pace.
My 5 top tips:
· For little ones, plan your session around nap times.
· Tell your children what you’re going to be doing and make it sound exciting.
· A promise of a treat or a reward afterwards can really help. I think of it as encouragement, not bribery!
· Bring along plenty of snacks and water bottles.
· Trust your photographer. They’ve got this!
My aim for your session is to capture your children, your family, exactly as they are at this moment in your lives. They’ll never be this age again. And this moment, however exhausting it is at times, should be remembered forever.
If you’d like me to capture your family’s story, fill out the Contact Form on my website. I’d love to hear from you.
Helen x
As a family photographer, I cover Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, Esher, Cobham and Molesey, as well as the rest of Elmbridge. I also cover other areas of Surrey, South-West London and beyond.
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