An Easy & Fun Portrait Session | Middle Tennessee Family Photographer

May 31, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Earlier this year, I donated a portrait session to the Longview Elementary School PTO for their Reptile Ruckus Silent Auction. I was happy to hear that the auction was won by a lovely family that I knew from church.

Beth wasn’t sure where she wanted to have her family’s outdoor portrait session, so I sent her the blog preview links from several other sessions from a variety of locations in and around Spring Hill. She chose Harlinsdale Farms, in Franklin, which has lots of beautiful barns and fences, which I love. The weather was awesome and not too hot, which is my main concern this time of year.

I though Beth did a fabulous job picking out the family’s clothing. She said she chose a strategy that I had recommended in the family portrait guide that I send to clients once they book a session. The recommendation is to choose a colorful / patterned outfit for one family member (in this case, Sarah) and then choose solid colors for everyone else that coordinate with that outfit. This results in a look that is pulled together without being too match-matchy and without too many patterns competing for attention. She also involved the children in choosing their outfits so that they clothing was something they were happy and comfortable in.

Elliot (age 7) and Sarah (age 4) did a fabulous job at the session. They seemed a little stiff and unsure of me at first, but quickly warmed up once they realized that a portrait session could be fun. I alternated between the more posed family shots, and allowing the kids to run around and play while I took candids. We did lotos of running and playing, picking flowers and even played with bubbles.

After the session was over, I posted a preview shot on both Facebook and Instagram, as I normally do. Beth commented on the Instagram post with note that meant a lot to me. She said “Thanks for an easy and fun portrait session!”. That was wonderful for me to hear because that is one of my main priorities for my clients. While I want to offer them a beautiful product for sure, it is also extremely important to me that they enjoy the process. I hear so many moms tell me that they have been meaning to book family portraits but put it off because the process is “too stressful.” I want to change that perception and strive to make the process easy from start to finish.

As it says on my website, I prefer children (and parents) to have fun and be carefree at our photo shoots....often thinking of them more like playdates than photo sessions. I encourage parents not to stress out or get frustrated with what seems like uncooperative little ones. Relax and leave the children to me and often the "uncooperative" / carefree toddler evokes the most emotional, real and joyful photographs. I do not rush sessions, nor do I care for "Mini" sessions. I want to get to know your family and capture their real personalities. We will take lots of breaks, and play a lot between "poses". Most of the time, my favorite pictures are during the playing and not the posing.

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Franklin TN Family Photographer