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| The Mexiner Family - A lot of people, A lot of fun! |
The day finally
arrives…eeeek! You get everyone up
early. Shower, do hair, make-up, dress everyone’s new matching outfits. Brush the dog, and off you go. Oops you
forgot to feed them – oh well, AFTER you are done everyone gets to go to lunch,
dinner, ice cream, whatever. This is going to be great!!!!
You arrive at the designated location. It is perfect. Then the
kids look out and say “ Why are we here?” You remind them that it is family picture
day! You spouse, simply inquires “How
long will this take?” A tad bit
irritated that they don’t recognize ALL
the prep work you have put into this event – you say, “just a little while." Irritated but determined, you forge ahead and meet the photographer. You discuss what you want and go over a shot
list from your head with the photographer. You tell them of all the great shots
you want to get. The different looks, etc.
The photographer with your vision in mind is ready, so you all head out to start. Then, then it all starts to fall apart. The kids, whom you forgot to feed, are
hungry, whining and not cooperative. The
spouse, who doesn’t want to be there, is now irritated that the kids are whining. The photographer is trying to get everyone to
smile, but on top of hungry tummies; one kid is looking
sideways, one is frowning, the other is smiling with their teeth only,
and the spouse has a plastered on smile that looks like something out of
Chucky. You curtly tell everyone to “Smile!
BIG! BE HAPPY!”
You stare down your spouse, tell your kids to cooperate, and try to pretend your
blood isn’t boiling…and thus begins the family photo session melt down. There it
goes, your visions of that perfect
family photo hanging above the mantle have dissolved into praying the photographer
can get just one good shot of everyone smiling and not looking
mad. Sound familiar?
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| My kids entertaining each other....Of course a smile for mom - was not easily obtained. But of all the pics - I actually like this one the best. They didn't even know I was shooting them! |
How do I know this scenario so well? Well, I have been on
both sides of the camera, and let me tell you – THIS happens all the time. I have many pictures of my own children – all
gussied up, on location, the prefect plan for the perfect pictures. They were all happy and smiling and as soon as we met with our friend with a camera in his
hand… POOF – the cooperation, smiles, anything symbolizing
a worth-while picture adventure vanished. I have lived the parental nightmare
of a family photo shoot gone wrong. I have also shot the family photo shoot
gone wrong – so I compiled a list of helpful hints to arm yourself with prior
to the shoot.
1.
Go with
the flow. Kids are kids. Simple as
that. They do not have the capacity to reason.
If they did – parents wouldn’t be so tired all the time.
2. FEED THEM! Please make sure everyone has eaten. There is
no getting around a hungry child. They are grumpy. Period. Also bring snacks, treats, candy anything
they like – BRIBE them! IT WORKS.
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| This is what they prefer to do....mug for the camera...It captures who they are! |
4. Let them
take breaks. Kids, dads, dogs, they need a break here and there. It makes
for a longer shoot but smiling gets old.
5. Be open to
ideas. This isn’t a fashion shoot,
with models, hair and makeup and tons of lights, it is your family. Let everyone be involved with the shoot and
participate. This gets everyone actively
involved and you might be surprised at the results!
6. Get the
shots you really want early. Get the
family, kids shots you really want first.
Often times the kids are cooperative for the first round of photos and
that is the best time to make sure you get the pics you want. After you get the
shots you “need” then let the photographer and you and your family get creative
and see what you come up – it is fun and often rewarding in the end!
7. Participate
in the shoot. Don’t think that the photographer has all the answers –
provide suggestions.
Other than that have fun, relax and have a great shoot.
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I took this picture when getting ready to head out for the day. I thought it was cute the way my kids were sitting waiting for me – however once I pulled the camera out they became uncooperative. I went with it, let them be goofy and ended up getting a great picture!
I took the picture to the right during a family shoot – we decided
to shoot in the reeds – because it looked like fun.
Paige Donahoe
Twisted Branch Photography
