After years of photographing families, I have been able to reflect on what makes for an awesome family portrait session. There are so many things that families can do before, during, and after a shoot to ensure that they have a spectacular time and come away with a set of stellar shots. So, what exactly can you do to help me capture the photos you have always wanted? Ten Tips for an Amazing Family Portrait Session1) Come to your portrait session well rested Do you ever get cranky when you don't get enough sleep? If you or anyone else in your family is tired, your photos will show it. I am always able to get the best results when everyone is feeling fresh. A well rested family makes for an energy fueled session. 2) Consider your family's routines When considering the best time for your family portrait session, it is important to take children's routines and your individual needs into account. I will always do my best to work around your schedule. But, planning ahead ensures that our portrait session is priority number one during our time together. 3) Be on time Coming to your family session on time (or even a bit early) is always best. The more time I have with your family the better. The beginning of our session is always about establishing a relationship. The better I know you as a family, the better I can capture you. 4) Be my stylist I need your help to make the portrait session run smoothly. No, this doesn't mean that I need you to stand behind me and clap your hands so that the kiddos will look at the camera. Your job is more akin to a stylist. Make sure your family's clothing and hair are to your liking throughout the session. 5) Bring an additional change of clothing If you are unsure of which clothing choice will work best for your family portraits, bring an extra change. Prior to our session, I will offer suggestions about clothing that makes for great imagery. But, if you are hemming and hawing over which outfit to wear, bring an extra along. 6) Bring a favorite item Parents of young children sometimes choose to bring along a special item to include in their portraits. Does your kiddo have a ratty old stuffed animal that they never want to part with? Now is the perfect time to document it before it finds its way into a keepsake box bound for your attic. While I don't shoot a lot of portraits with props of any sort, there is a time and a place for those special keepsakes. 7) Sustain the smiles with bribery Of course I am a proponent of intrinsic motivation. But, I am not above cheap bribery to get a great portrait. Keep a bag of goodies on hand that can be used to motivate your child through the portrait session. Something yummy to eat usually does the trick for young children. 8) Don't worry about the photographer I am not stressed out by your child's unwillingness or cheeky backtalk. I am not freaked out by a kid throwing a tantrum. I am also a father and know all too well "how it is." I am ready to capture the smiles between those meltdown moments. Don't worry about me! 9) Be flexible A family portrait session is all about having fun. Every portrait session is unique and I will work with you to capture the very best moments for you and your family to love and enjoy for years to come. As we work together, keep an open mind and be flexible. 10) Treat yourself I always advise families to treat themselves to something nice after our shoot. Seeing that you are out and about, you might as well extend your family's special day together. Do you have a favorite ice cream parlor or kid's museum? Plan a special treat after our session so that you can keep the good times rolling. Are you interested in a family portrait session? Put these ten tips to practice during your own session. What are you waiting for? Book a shoot today! Recommended PostsI am always stoked when my clients and I get the chance to be first into, well, anywhere. Whether it is a garden or temple, neighborhood venue or amusement park, I love the feeling of being in a space without others there. It makes me feel like the world has stopped and that we are the masters of time. I was stoked to see Harry, Zac, Mia, John and Carmen show up on time for our early morning shoot. Frankly, I was impressed. How John and Carmen got two young twin boys and a feisty older sister out the door and to our location on time I will never know. But they did and, because of that effort, Tokyo's famous Shinjuku Gyoen was all ours for a few precious minutes. The twins, Zac and Harry, were full of energy and Mia was a little firecracker, smiling coyly and then letting out a tremendous laugh. As soon as we entered the park the boys started running and Mia skipped along. John and Carmen also had smiles on their faces and strolled together along the park's tranquil pathway. I could tell within those first few moments that I was going to have fun shooting family portraits with the Monksmiths. For the next hour or so, I had the opportunity to run with the kids, act silly, and snag some awesome shots with this amazing family. Are you interested in a family portrait session in Tokyo?If so, don't be bashful. Contact me today so that we can begin crafting a custom shoot for your family. Related Blog ContentRained Out In MeguroJust like always, I arrived in downtown Tokyo early for my family portrait session. The Nagy family and I planned for several weeks to have an afternoon filled with sunshine and street photography. But as I exited the train at Shibuya Station, I knew that we would have to abort the plan. It was raining cats and dogs. Being early for shoots always has advantages. I get the chance to again scout the location, prepare myself mentally for the session and, if I am lucky, find a little cafe for a cup of coffee to get my engine running properly. But with the rain blowing sideways, I could do little more than hold an umbrella over my head and gear bag. I found a bridge to stand under and waited for the time to pass. As I waited, I thought about how family photography is such a tricky business. Every family has different expectations for their photographs. Some want to be documented, some posed. Some families simply want me to focus on the kids. When you compound this understanding with monkey wrench rain, a photographer really does have to be ready for a seemingly never ending list of possibilities. All you can really do is trust that you have been hired for your photographic vision and that your client trusts your judgement. With an obvious change of plans on the horizon, I was eager to see how this family shoot would turn out. At shoot time, I made my way to the Nagy's downtown home and knocked on the door. The two Nagy boys, Xavier and Zander greeted me quickly and Stephen and Lisa were quickly behind them. After a brief chat, the Nagys and I decided to forgo our outdoor plans in the streets of Meguro to stay indoors where it was nice and dry. I simply asked for the family to do what they would normally do on a rainy day. For the next ninety minutes, I worked around the family as they played Monopoly, ran up and down the stairs, bounced on beds and snuggled on the couch. While it wasn't the shoot we originally planned, the afternoon with the Nagys was just as productive photographically. Thank you Nagy family for a great family portrait session! Time with family is precious. Allow me to capture your family's time together. For more information about family portraiture in Tokyo, contact me today! Related Blog ContentZozoji Temple | Tokyo, JapanI arrived at Zozoji temple ahead of schedule. I wanted to peak around the complex before it opened. It was a Sunday and I knew that Zozoji was going to get busy, really busy. Tokyo bustles on weekends and temples and shrines are certainly no exception. I walked in for a quick look around and noticed that, besides me, there were only four or five people. The lack of humans was an auspicious sign. I meandered a bit, hanging close to the entrance and enjoyed a moment of silence before my clients arrived. Just past 9:00, I headed back to wait for the Schultz family. The crew popped out of a cab as I was taking a light test against an already blown out sky. I greeted Joyce and Matthew with a hug and gave high fives to Meadow, Hudson and Luca (assisted by her mother). It seemed only natural to hug Matthew and Joyce instead of with handshakes. I already felt like I knew them from all of the emails we had exchanged. From our conversations I found out that we had a lot in common. We all live in Tokyo, but we shared stomping grounds in America We also have mutual friends from my small Appalachian hometown in east Tennessee. Greeting the Schultz family, I was reminded how small our world actually is. I listened carefully as Joyce reiterated what she envisioned for the family shoot. She wanted a healthy balance of lifestyle and documentary portraiture. I was happy to hear that the Schultz family wanted a variety in their product. My objectives were clear and I was determined to get started with our family portrait session right away. So, after a minute or two of pleasantries, we entered Zozoji through the temple's imposing red doors. For the next ninety minutes, we made our way through the temple complex only stopping for bathroom breaks and Rice Krispy treats. Thank you Joyce, Matt, Meadow, Hudson and Luca for a wonderful morning exploring one of Tokyo's most beautiful landmarks! I can't wait for our next session. Are you interested in a family photography session in Tokyo or lifestyle portraits? If so, I would love to hear from you. Contact me today to reserve your session date.
Cherry Blossoms In TokyoNogawa Park, Tokyo 4:30 on a Thursday One thing that I love about Japan is that, even with millions of people, the masses play it cool. If a little earthquake hits, nobody freaks out. Crammed next to hundreds of strangers on the metro? Just relax and take a standing nap. But, there is one thing that is a big deal, Cherry blossom season, or Sakura as it known in Japan, comes in late March or early April. The little white and pink blooms are the sign that the winter is over for good and spring is finally here. The flowers are a sign to celebrate. During this time, everyone comes out to play. When I say everyone, I mean everyone. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Tokyo hotspots to bask in the blooms. Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyeon are filled to the brim with young and old and even the shut ins take out the picnic blanket for the hanami (meaning flower viewing). While I am always down to get out into the blossoms for a family photoshoot, I do my very best to find those spots that are away from the masses and that create a private oasis for a client. This spring, I had the chance to again work with the Harrison family, some of my most faithful clients. Unlike the last time I worked with the family during Sakura, the family is now a four-piece. While there was a new dynamic, the Harrisons still have the same smile, kind disposition and cherry blossom madness. Thanks for such a great session Harrisons! Can't wait to see you next year when the little blooms are out.
Kids Will Be KidsFor many years, I was a first grade teacher. For everything I despised about teaching (assessment and state accountability mostly), there was an overpowering feeling that gave fuel to my soul. I loved seeing lightbulbs go off in six-year-old heads. I adored getting hugs from crying kids after their problems had been solved. I relished when kids got cheeky and stubborn. As a family photographer in Tokyo, I get to enjoy the same qualities of children that I grew to love in the classroom. Much of the experience I gained in education is transferable to photography, especially when it comes to family photography. Photographing families with little ones is not easy. You have an incredibly small time frame to capture as many shots as possible before the kiddos get cranky and your shoot goes seemingly south. Parents and photographers alike know that this wee window of photographic opportunity could be last anywhere from five to fifty minutes. But, just because kids are getting cheeky and stubborn doesn't mean that you have to pack up your kit bag and send your subjects back to the house to soothe their wounds with juice boxes and animal crackers. My Advice To PhotographersAfter a time of capturing those classic family portraits, stretch it. Don't scurry away because of a bit of whining. If a kid wonders out of frame, pan over and snap them with the flower that has stolen their attention. Is the kid pouting or taking the mick? Ask them to step forward and allow them to become the center of attention for a moment. Is the kid exhausted and laying in the grass? The composition gods have just given you a stunner not to be missed. When kids get cranky, your shoot isn't over. The opportunity has not been lost. In fact, the odds of getting that framable shot have just gone through the roof. Allowing children to bugger off after some time of artificial posing will not only yield some excellent shots for a photographer, it will give the children the chance to be themselves. Capturing those moments, the times that families are relaxed and relating to the world the way they desire, is not only essential to a family shoot, it is capturing the true essence of the family. Thank you Cabalunas for a wonderful portrait session! You are an awesome family. I was again honored to be given the chance have a family portrait session with the Burns, my oldest and best friends.
Tokyo, Japan 11:17 on a Sunday Thanks to an abnormally rainy September in Tokyo, family portrait sessions had come to a standstill. Already, the Choon family and I had to cancel our original shoot date and reschedule. As a portrait photographer who primarily uses natural light, this sort of thing isn't surprising in the slightest. It happens. Clients can book months in advance. But that doesn't guarantee clear blue skies. While I am always stoked to shoot moody portraits with clouds as prevalent as the intended subjects, most clients like to keep their photoshoots dry and on the chipper side. After weeks of communication and preparation, I arrived early at the Choon household. When Mark and Jen opened their door, I met Buckley, the family dog. I had been warned about Buckley but, as I expected, was not at all intimated by him. To warm him up I was given a handful of apples to feed him and. after getting past "the guard," I entered the Choon's beautiful downtown home. With the pleasantries aside I met my main task of the day, Franco. I have met many kids in my day. Without a doubt, Franco is one of the coolest. Franco is live. Full on. He is a runner. He is a shower and he is a teller. After a bit of a chat, Franco was ready to show me his toys, his bed, his dirty clothes, everything really. I was especially taken with his "pirate ship." Franco's cardboard box was embossed with a Jolly Roger (one of my favorite symbols of rebellion). Seeing his ship, I felt a kindred spirit in my midst. As Franco set sail, our family portrait session began. For the next couple of hours, the young family and I lazily worked throughout their neighborhood and in a nearby park that had been a special spot during the family's time in Japan. The Choon family is lovely and I am grateful to have had the privilege of entering their lives if only for a moment. I wish them nothing but the best in their new home in the Philippines. If you are interested in your own family portrait session in Tokyo, please feel free to contact me.
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