Lifestyle Photographer| Clovis|Is there a best age to have your kids professionally photographed? If so what is it?
Is there a best age to have your kids professionally photographed? If so what is it?
I’m a professional photographer and have been working with kids of all ages for over four years I actually started my photography career doing family and children portraits. I know a few tips and tricks that I like to apply when I’m photographing kiddos. I want to share with you some behind-the-scenes of what it really is like to be a photographer working with kids. Also want to share some of my input on what works and what doesn’t. A little background on me I shoot exclusively outdoors. I am a lifestyle photographer. How I like to define the type of photographer I am is super laid-back. I do a mixture of a documentary style of photography included with a little portrait photography hit that’s why I call myself a lifestyle photographer. I’m not super strict on following rules and don’t believe that every family will work the same way, so that’s why I’m super flexible. With that being said, let’s get into the process of booking a family shoot or a child’s portrait session from the beginning to the end.
Booking process
The booking process for me usually starts with an inquiry from a potential client. I will answer any questions and perhaps ask some questions back to the client as well. Once we both decided we are a match and the booking has been completed. I will go ahead and send some blog posts and useful resources to clients to help them, prepare for their sessions. I’m a strong believer that the more information my client has the more confident they will feel about their session. It also helps me as a photographer when a client is well-informed and well-prepared before a photo shoot. It really makes a night and day difference when a client has taken the time to gather what they need and shows up ready.
An example of someone who isn’t prepared would look like arriving late to the location rushing looking, overwhelmed stressed out. The kiddos are over it already from the start. Everyone looks on the edge and us, hoping the photoshoot wraps up super fast so they could go home. As a Photographer my job is to transform the negative energy that has shown up and if that is not manageable because in reality it not always is I’m supposed to capture the best photos I can and this is where I am super transparent with my clients from the beginning, having your expectations, be realistic, if you show up late to a photo session, the whole family is overwhelmed and over It. This makes it really difficult for me to capture top-tier photographs because I simply cannot change or create some magical images from a difficult situation.
Posing
Normally I don’t do any strict posing unless it’s needed. If I were to describe how I pose my clients it would be more of guidance. The way I see it my goal is always to let each image be unique to each individual I’m capturing. Even though I’ll be telling two different families the same pose it will not look identical because I let them get in the pose and adjust it to what makes them comfortable. In situations where I need to strictly pose would be if a client needs help. Some clients want the extra attention and guidance to where I’m placing their hands and their bodies exactly in a pose. Although my poses are not crazy or over the top I like to give my clients a say on how I pose them. With kids, I take the same approach. If I’m working with toddlers I try guiding them into a pose if they don’t cooperate I let them do whatever they want. I know this sounds crazy but when you don’t force a toddler to do anything, they will slowly understand what’s going on and if that doesn’t happen, candid photos of toddlers being themselves is always super cute. I will hands-down take this approach over, forcing a toddler into any position that will only end up, making matters worse and provoking a tantrum. Now the whole family will probably end up ready to go home after that.
Editing
I think the simple the better when it comes to my workflow and my working style as a whole. The fewer things I have to do the better and the fewer things my clients have to do the better it all comes down to having my clients feel like they are able to navigate a photo session as comfortable and stress-free as possible. part of doing what I love is being to equally feel as comfortable as my clients still feeling like I am being true to myself is also very important. That is why I don’t over-edit any of my photos I like to Say, if it’s not something that your body can naturally get rid of on its own in two weeks for example, a blemish don’t count on me editing it out. I often get asked questions or requests from certain clients to have me photoshop their body parts to make them look thinner or Change something about them. I’d like to remind them that my job is to photograph them and like I mentioned to them at the beginning of the process, I don’t feel comfortable enhancing or removing or altering any type of body parts it’s just a very uncomfortable situation for me and morally. It’s something I do not include in my work.
I hope that this behind the scenes from my perspective on my sessions gives you an insight into what I’m about and are able to decide if I’m the right photographer for you. I do think it Has to be a mutual decision from both Clients and the photographer to work together and a lot of this is based on passed work.
