So… You Want a Door County Family Portrait?
Following the leader game in action.
Are you taking a Door County vacation and want to book a family photographer while you’re in town? You’ve come to the right place!
For family portraits I take a child-led and play-based approach. You’re on vacation after all, so this should be fun!
When I say this, I mean that I want you all to go at your own pace… This does NOT mean I’ll leave you hanging awkwardly, far from it. I encourage things along by jumping in, as needed, with directions or prompts to get certain shots, or I’ll have you all keep doing what you’re doing to best capture those moments, (while I continue to make everyone feel at ease.) It’s as simple as sitting on a blanket with your kids and snuggling, singing songs, having ticklefights, playing chase games or ring around the rosy.
If kids aren’t following directions, don’t worry, I’ll change it up! (Trust me, this does happen! Its ok!) I’ll have them play a tag or running game, stick their toes in the water, or literally just lead them on a walk. Please do not stress about this. I’ve been taking family photos for over 13 years. When I say “I’ve seen it all…” I really have. :)
When you book a session with me, I ask if there are things that I should know. I’ll ask for everyones names and a little bit about them. I’ll ask if anyone needs accommodation, whether that’s an elderly family member with a mobility issue or a neurodiverse family member. These questions help me best prepare for the shoot.
When kids are happy, fed and regulated, listening is easier and everyone is at ease. I understand that during vacation, kids are often off routine, and following directions becomes twice as hard. This is why I focus on PLAY. Keeping it casual and fun. This works well for all ages and nuro-diversities. YOU know your kiddos best and I highly encourage you to work WITH me to come up with ideas for play that works for your family.
I asked Mom to sniff that wonderful baby smell.
I asked them to all snuggle up close and look up at the camera, holding hands.
Things I suggest for best outcomes!
Make sure kids are well rested! This may mean doing the shoot first thing in the morning.
Have your family recently fed. Again, why morning works well! Hangry kid (or parents) is a recipe for disaster.
Tell your kids that you’re taking photos with a photographer to get them mentally prepared for the idea! Show them some of your other family photos. This is a fun time to break out your wedding album or other family heirloom albums.
Pack EXTRA outfits. Nothing is more stressful than a carefully chosen picture outfit that gets soiled minutes before your shoot. (Please refer to THIS blog post for help with choosing clothing!)
Packing bubbles is one of my favorite things to help with kids that are having trouble getting comfy in front of the lens.
Pack a cute picnic blanket to sit on, especially for kids who may not want to sit on sand or grass.
I try to help you find a location that doesn't involve a long drive from where you are staying.
Portrait sessions are offered in either 30 or 60 minutes so that we can stay within the attention span of little ones. I am flexible with timing and don’t rush things, if we need a little longer to warm up thats fine.
For this image, I asked for everyone to tickle the fastest eater!
The family brought some favorite books.
For some kids, asking them to look at the camera and smile works just fine. If someone is autistic, they might not want to look at the camera at all. They may not smile. That’s ok! I don’t force smiles, again this is where play comes in. I try to encourage families to tune in and focus on each other so that we can capture those real expressions of love. I like to play a game of “who is the biggest/best/fastest XYZ” to get some giggles going. Snuggle photos are another favorite of mine. I love snuggle photos! (I understand that not every autistic person wants to be snuggled, again, that's ok!) A kid with ADHD might be using the terrain to make their own obstacle course — lets work with that!
I try to shoot either in the early mornings (before 9am,) especially for families with young kiddos, both to avoid crowds, avoid heat and for best light. If this doesn't work for your family, we can find a quieter location at a different time of day.
I offer help with planning, outfits, locations, timing etc for the best possible outcome.
My hope is that the images we create will become family treasures. <3
-XOXO,
Soirsce