Here is one personal story about why those objections are not going to fly with anyone . . . First of all – everyone who loves you wants pictures of and/or with you – so knock that off now. You are who you are today and your photographer is trained in posing, wardrobe advice and post-production to help you look your absolute best – we know all the tricks!
So being a photographer – you would assume I am constantly taking pictures of my family – not with my phone. You would also think that I would practice what I preach – and have a family photo that I’m in. NOPE.
I CANNOT stand to have my picture taken. I think I look horrible – yes that is the word I use – HORRIBLE. Lots of shame going on with my self-image . . . I am not AT ALL the way I want to be remembered – or seen. I’ve had 40-50 pounds to lose since my last child – 14 years now! Okay so with that thinking – unless something drastically changes – like I actually get serious about my weight – my children won’t have a picture of me with them except for the little selfies we take and post on FB (facebook).
This past Christmas, I said okay this is stupid! I need to take family pictures with me and my kids. The ONLY portrait I have of me and any of my kids, I took of my first child and me when she was three – it was a self-portrait and it was fun and I still cherish it – I weighed 40 lbs less than I do today – it’s a big difference. I’m a different person physically and it is upsetting – HOWEVER – it was more upsetting that I could possibly be in my grave before I took pictures with my kids – and the dog!
So being the photographer I am, I chose an outfit that would compliment my body the best, got clothes for the kids so we all coordinated and asked my photographer friend, Karen ReVelle Photography, to take our family photo! I am so glad we did this and we will do it probably every year now – which is what I hear from other mothers that resist doing this. As soon as their session is over and they see the results – they are thrilled and hooked!
Since we had a time limitation with light, I took some photos ahead of time of the kids while we were waiting for Karen. All-in-all, we laughed a lot and it was great family time.
In my experience – the family sessions I do go like this – the family shows up, the kids are usually grumbling or look like it took some fighting to get everyone coordinated and out the door – during the session we have fun, laugh and then they go out for a fun meal. Getting family photos done is not just something you REALLY need to do for yourself and future generations, or a chore, it’s something to do together and can be super fun. Think about venues – places you like to go and schedule a family session there. Make the session about your family’s personality. One of my packages offers a longer session so we can do some lifestyle photos of kids playing, parents torturing their kids or kids torturing their parents – whatever. This certainly does not have to – and should not be – a chore. The more fun we have, the more receptive the kids will be to having their photos taken.
The next VERY IMPORTANT step to the family photo session experience is PRINT YOUR PHOTOS! Get a folio box of matted images, photo album or book, framed wall art . . . GET THOSE IMAGES ON PAPER OR CANVAS and put them on your walls. “Let’s sit around the computer and look at pictures,” said no one ever. I can help you with this! I can handle everything from concept to framing.
If I do your family session, we will talk ahead of time about what you would like the end product(s) to be and we will shoot with that in mind. Then after your session, we will get together and go through your images and decide what goes where and how.
Any other objections you can think of to not take family or individual portraits? Throw them my way and I will bat them down!