ALOHA, EVERYONE —

As May closes in on us, I’ve been thinking about my upcoming family sessions and mini shoots. The more I document families and their raw moments together, the more intel I’ve gathered from my clients for how to have a successful time together. My prayer is that these tips will make you feel at ease the next time you step in front of a camera with your whole crew.

And remember!

Success reimagined:

“a lasting MEMORY for you and your family to cherish through storytelling-imagery”

Let’s focus on making this a memory for your family rather than a long afternoon of “posing.”

Whether it’s 15 minutes or a full hour point five together

no 01. — Prepping your kids (and sometimes your spouse)

The week leading up to the session:

I never expect my clients to feel completely natural with a camera in their face. Being married to Eric has given me additional practice and patience as he’s not a big fan of photos. One of the best things you can do to prep yourself and your family for our time together is to start talking about what’s actually going to happen at the shoot. Yes, your photographer will be taking photos of you and your family. But what do you actually want from these images?

If you want raw, playful, lifestyle moments:

-start playing and interacting the way you’d want to be captured. this can look like: silly kisses and tackle hugs, tossing kids in the air, walking together holding hands, having them hug you back or give you butterfly kisses, telling jokes that make them belly laugh (sometimes this even means talking about flatulence — just this once), dancing, and even playful games to keep their attention off the new person with the camera

-observe your family to keep a list of some of the ways you have fun together

-avoid saying things like “cheese” as this only leads to forced smiles

-some parents are okay with bribing, and this is definitely not a judgment of your parenting. sometimes a bribe is a way to redirect a distracted child and then get right back to playing together

-tell your kids about your photographer and some of the things they may be doing. for younger kids, it might even be helpful to show them a camera. If you don’t have one, a picture on the internet will do. You’d be surprised how much this helps

Remind your spouse that this is the only time your family will be at these ages and in this phase together, so their cooperation for a fun and shoot means a lot to you. again, the less posed and “fake” your photoshoot, the more likely everyone is to have a good time and make a lasting memory

no 02. — selecting your wardrobe

There’s only one reason you’ve paid good money for this photoshoot. Visual keepsakes to remember this period of time with your family.

So let’s not neglect one of the most important parts. Your wardrobe.

If you’re anything like me, even the thought of getting your outfits together sends shivers up your spine. And the more family members you have, the more daunting this can be.

If you haven’t already, you can grab my free styling guide by signing up for my emails.

But here are a few key-tips:

-Movement. Make sure the clothes you’re selecting fit and allow for movement. Avoid pants that are too big on your kids and cause them to constantly be pulling them up. And avoid anything too tight that may cause you to want the session to be over too quickly just so you can put on something more comfortable.

-The key is to be in something comfortable enough to play and interact your family naturally.

-Colors. As you’ll see in my guide, it’s not so much about the color, and more about the textures and patterns. This allows you to think outside the box. If you don’t know where to start, go through all your closets and look for these items: denim jackets, corduroy shorts, a striped shirt that you always reach for. Then start building your outfits around those and continue incorporating more colors and textures.

Examples that you probably have already: florals, linen, denim, silk/satin, stripes, leather or suede.

I’m always here as a resource when you need it —

no 03. — Timing and location familiarity

A little familiarity can go a long way.

If you haven’t chosen the location for your photoshoot yet, keep in mind that any location can become a playground if you make it one.

But choosing your location with “play” in mind will make everything easier.

A field for running.

A park with giant rocks for climbing.

A beach with few distractions (and packing sand toys).

Your own backyard with a tree to climb. Don’t overthink it.

But once your location is chosen, it would help to plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early.

Your photographer will thank you for not being late.

Not only that, you’ll allow your family the time to get familiar with the area. To find that tree or log they want to climb on. For babies to experience the cold grass or warm sand and explore the new sites and sounds.

Maybe even wait to put young ones in their outfits until after this exploration to allow for unexpected messes. And remember, a grass stain doesn’t take away from a happy and smiling, kiddo.

You’ll never regret being early for your session — just don’t overdo the exploration and play. Save most of your energy for the time you’ve paid for with the photographer.

*BONUS: naps. You know your kids best. Choose the time that makes the most sense for their play time and avoid the time of day they’re most likely to be hangry or fussy. This might mean before or after a nap for your child.

no 04. — What to bring with you

I’ll keep this one short and sweet. I’m not here to overwhelm you. But here’s a packing guide for your family session based off recent clients and items they’ve either brought or forgotten:

-a change of clothes or a jacket/sweater to cover mishaps

-snacks, bribes and water

-picnic blanket if you’re prone to getting itchy sitting in grass or on sand

-an aesthetic toy for babies and toddlers to hold: wooden toys, baby dolls or books are great

-hair necessities: spray bottle, hair tie, etc

-comfy shoes to walk to your location if you’re opting for barefoot or heels

There’s nothing wrong with being over prepared. So grab a tote bag and start throwing everything in it the week leading up to your session.

no 05. — You’ve taken your photos (with Leah, of course), now what?

Congrats, you’ve wrangled your family for the war family photos

As you patiently wait for your gallery, you can:

-send a text of gratitude to your photographer

-start getting your holiday card design ready

-buy an external hard drive to save your images in case they use an expiring gallery site

The sites I like to use for printing and framing:

Artifact Uprising and Framebridge for nice prints

WHCC and Mpix for multiple prints

I just recently used Frameology for ease and quick turn around and they turned out great.

If you know me, you know I love seeing an iPhone snap of my art in your homes. I’m sure your photographer would appreciate the same if you decide to frame their work.

no 06 — Vacation Family Photoshoot - What to do when you’re traveling to Hawai’i for a shoot?

You’ve picked the best of the best when it comes to family photo locations.

Hawai’i light and weather are always dreamy.

If you haven’t booked your photographer yet, you can scroll to the bottom and fill out an inquiry here.

Hotels that are often used for easy access beach photoshoot locations

(you often don’t have to be staying at these resorts to use their beach access):

Oahu —

Alohilani Resort - Waikiki

The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay - great beach at Sunset

Aulani, Disney Resort and Spa - great beach at Sunrise

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki - great at Sunrise

Four Seasons Resort Oahu - coconut trees on the beach, pretty Sunset