Capturing the Littlest

I’ve recently had inquiries regarding whether or not I do child-only portraiture sessions, and the answer is YES! As a mom and former kindergarten teacher, I have a real love of photographing little ones, and I understand that not every photography session is meant to be for the entire family.

BUT… I do things a little differently, and there’s a big reason why . You see, it’s my years of teaching that made me realize that there is only a small percentage of children who do well in the scenario of “show up and perform.” Especially when you’re asking them to do that with new people in new environments. So, dressing your children up in clothes they don’t normally wear, driving them to a foreign location that has no relevance to them, and asking them to look “perfect” for the strange lady with the camera is often enough to make most children do just the opposite. Add in parents in the background shouting “look at the camera! say cheese! don’t smile like that!,” and things can go from bad to worse (trust me, I’ve been in both the mom’s and photographer’s shoes on this one). It’s too much pressure, it’s not natural, and therefore you end up with meltdowns that you’re attempting to overcome with tons of bribes. Have I been able to take decent pictures with the above scenario? Sure. But is it for fun for everyone involved? Not nearly as much as it could be.

So, during a child portraiture session with me, children are allowed to be themselves. They will get to play and laugh and run around, even if it means their outfits get a little rumpled. The idea is that I can chat with your little one and goof around with them while I just so happen to have the camera out. I will also ask that you consider having the session at your home, where we can shoot indoors and out, making your children extra comfortable and insuring that your images are unique (home sessions guarantee that no one else will have the same backdrop, and having the memory of your home captured along with your little one is a bonus!). If you really really are dying to have a shoot on location, let’s at least pick a fun place where there a things to do! A favorite park or a lake where you like to go may be something to think about.

I became a photographer with the mission to capture memories-in-the-making, so if you’re looking for a fun and relaxed type of session, then I may just be the girl for you! Go ahead and check out an impromptu session with my own daughter to get a feel for my style, or you can always contact me for more info!