July 1, 2018
Over the years I’ve heard all the excuses about why people can’t or won’t book a documentary family session. If you’re someone who keeps putting off a shoot, or you feel like you’re on the fence about a session, this post is for you.
Is it because you don’t see anything resembling what your reality looks like on the carefully curated social media accounts you scroll through everyday? Are you worried your kids won’t behave, or you think your everyday ordinary is mundane and boring? Do in-home sessions scare you because you think your house is too small, or too messy and you’re worried about what people will think? Are you waiting until you lose those last 5, 10, 20 pounds? Maybe you just don’t have enough time right now because your kid’s schedules are crazy and you’re always on the go.
Hey, I get it- and believe me, I’m not judging. I’m just asking you to think a little differently about the importance of these sessions. Time moves quickly when your unit of measurement is childhood, and the things that are happening right now are already in the process of changing.
Yeah you are! I can fix that with two different options…
Seriously? No. I promise you’re not as boring as you think, it’s just harder for you to recognize because you’re in the thick of it right now. Your everyday ordinary life is filled with so many awesome little details that make you guys shine. You need to see this through fresh eyes and a different perspective. Let me show you. I promise you won’t regret it.
I go into every session fully anticipating that the kids will misbehave at some point, so let’s just let it happen. I’m not expecting it because I heard rumors about them, it’s just how kids roll. I shoot right through temper tantrums, crying, fighting, pants peeing, you name it. That usually gets kids to either turn things around, or get even crazier which makes for some pretty memorable photos.
No joke- 90% of the time after each session ends, parents will say some version of: “Were we the worst family ever? The kids ruined it didn’t they? We’re so boring. I can’t believe how bad the kids were.” Trust me, it’s never THAT bad. Anyway, the point of your session is to capture the reality of your life right now– not some made for social media version. So you better believe that includes all the messy stuff that comes with relationships, parenting and growing up. Got it?
Good news, I get a little uncomfortable when I walk into a crazy clean house. I have 3 kids who make my house look like a different superstorm blew through every single room. Your house is fine the way it is, and it’s where your family is most comfortable.
When you look at pictures from your own childhood, can you tell whether the house was clean or messy? Would you even care? You probably strain your eyes to inspect every little detail of the background, not because you’re criticizing the way your parents kept your home, but because you are aching to remember ALL the details.
Your house is part of your story and deserves to share some of the spotlight. If you think your house is too small, or too big, or too whatever– that’s just life, right? You’ve made it your own over the years and everything inside helps tell the story of where your family is at this point in time. Leave the mess.
Ok, I hear you, and this is probably the only valid excuse of the bunch. Sessions aren’t cheap and I know custom photography is more of a want than a need for a lot of us, but the value is pretty much immeasurable based on the incredible images you’re left with. (Maybe you can start an Awesome Family Photos jar and put all your loose change and dollar bills inside just to get the ball rolling!)
Oh! You should know that every documentary family session with me includes a set of 4×6 proof prints to ensure you’re left with something tangible when it’s all said and done.
Think of it as an investment for your future when your memories start to fade and your kids grow bigger than you can keep up with (or handle). I am happy to set up payment schedules for session fees and/or products to make sure nothing is too overwhelming or breaks the bank, so please let me know if that’s something you’re interested in.
This excuse needs to GO! Have you ever looked through your own childhood photos and thought, “Geez, I really wish my mom lost weight before she got in the picture” or “It’s annoying how many pictures I have from childhood with my parents.”? Of course not. You’re just happy to have those photos, right?
We’re overly critical of ourselves but our kids aren’t going to care about anything except having real photos of themselves with their parents. I’ll say it again, time is fleeting and this chapter of your family story will be over before you know it. Think about it this way- you do SO MUCH for your family- how great will it be to have a visual record of what a rockstar you are! You were there too, leave your kids with something awesome to remind them.
Great! I always make a little time for a few posed family photos at the beginning or end of each session. I also partner with Minted to offer my clients some pretty stunning options for their holiday cards so I’ve got you covered in the holiday card department. The best part is you can request ANY of the photos from your session to be uploaded to your Minted account, so you can design your holiday cards with ease!
You’ll get your pretty holiday card photo AND the real life photos that depict the love and chaos that is your family, unfiltered.
There’s no better time than now to schedule your own documentary family session. If you still have reservations or an excuse that I didn’t cover, get in touch with me and we’ll talk it out. Otherwise, go ahead and hit that button below to get started!
