You've all been there - mom is worried that the outfits she painstakingly chose won't look right in photos. Dad is grumpy, because the last thing he wants to do during his precious weekend hours is smile for a photographer he doesn't know. The kids are of course, acting like wild beasts because they are feeding off of all of the anxious energy that mom and dad are putting out into the universe. Inevitably, someone has a meltdown, somebody stains their BRAND. NEW. PANTS... and everyone is exhausted before the session even begins. Sound familiar?
Imagine this scenario instead...photographer arrives at your home at 7 am on a Sunday. Kids have just gotten up (and let's face it - when you're 4, bedhead and pjs might be the cutest things ever), with you drinking your coffee and starting to gather items for breakfast (even if it's just cereal!!). Throughout the session, you just get to enjoy your Sunday morning. You make and eat breakfast as a family - who cares if little one spills her OJ on the counter? Easy fix, and bonus - new pjs are just down the hall! Breakfast is followed by playtime with the kiddos - coloring, finger painting (the messier the better!), toy trains, reading books - you name it! Instead of worrying if everyone is smiling and looking perfect for the camera, you are ENJOYING your kids. Let them be little, and let me capture the details of this time in your life that will be gone before you know it. Pretty soon, that adorable 4 year old is going to be 16 and rolling her eyes at the thought of spending a Sunday morning hanging out with mom & dad. You'll be lucky if she gets up before noon and grunts a good morning - trust me, I know - that was totally me. ;)
So, in a nutshell - THAT is what Day in the Life sessions are all about. I usually suggest having some things in mind that you love to do as a family, or that your kids love to do, to help with the flow of the session and to make everyone feel extra comfortable. But my focus is not the activities, it's the interaction that you have with your kids, with your spouse, with your pet... capturing the moments that make your life uniquely yours.
One last thing - worried your house isn't picture perfect? Let's go do something instead! Apple orchard, a park, your fave breakfast spot, fishing at the lake, hanging out with Fido at the dog park - the possibilities are endless. Just choose something that feels like YOU.
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