What if my kids are wild?
What if my kids are wild and crazy during the session?!
Challenge Accepted! I chose the picture above because well it's my kid. I know if I put someone else's kid up there they may think I was saying they were wild. Truth kids 99% of the kids in sessions are WILD. They are running around like they have more energy than they need and the parents are STRESSED. So if you're reading this and thinking I can totally relate to that.
"Jennifer, but really what IF THEY ARE WILD"
Ok, my point is kids are wild, it's my job to get those moments whether they're wild or not. If your child isn't wild but cries at the sight of a camera (it's a real thing) or if you have a child like mine that sees a camera and goes full Wednesday Addams, you just want to cry. I don't want pictures of my kid crying or looking like they are miserable. If you've read my other blog about lifestyle photography, this is where it pays off. I will literally run around looking like a total fool if that is what makes your kid happy. I tell jokes, they're terrible believe me, but if they laugh out of pure sadness for me, I'll take that smile.
"Jennifer, this isn't really helpful because I still don't want pictures of my kids unhappy"
Totally get that. I mean who does right? I don't know how many sessions, well I do, ALL OF THEM, that the end of the session ends with the mom (because the dad is usually like I'm done with pictures and I'm OUT) saying, I really hope you got at least one good one. Girl, I got a lot of good ones, I promise you. I won't end a session if I don't KNOW that I got at least one key important shot of the family, each kid by themselves and all the kids together. I PROMISE.
"Ok, let's pretend like you break your promise because my kid hasn't stopped crying since we got here and I know there wasn't a moment they smiled."
Fair enough. That has happened. I have a guarantee that if I didn't get the shots you want, I'll do a reshoot in a different setting that you think that kid will be happier in, or at least a day they didn't get their yearly shots an hour before, kind of thing.
"Jennifer, I'm just so scared to spend all that money and not get any good pictures"
If I haven't emphasized in my other blog enough on finding the right photographer for you, this should have set it out for you. Not everyone wants lifestyle pictures of them walking through a field all smiling like that a totally normal thing for them. Don't worry I had my family pictures taken last year in a field, that is not a jab any anyone, but really isn't if funny when you think about it? But if you have small kids, opt for a lifestyle photographer until they become grown adults and you don't have to bribe them with a new gaming system or fancy sports car. We've all been there, most of my parents at sessions use the "if you want ice cream after this, you better smile!"
Hang in there parent you're doing a great job by the way. Below is a picture of my kids I took years ago. I'll just say my daughter does not love being right next to her brother but I got that RIGHT second where she doesn't look like she's in total pain. WIN !
What do we even wear?
What do we even wear to this thing?!
Have you booked a session with a photographer and now you're like I don't know what to wear?! Well let's hope this help you out a little bit. I hope this blog works because it's a little different because I have this set up to send out to my clients when they book so you get that experience here.
"But Jennifer, if I didn't book with you, why are you being so nice?"
First off, that's me. Mrs. Nice. I love helping anyone and everyone in ways that I can. If it's relieving stress from your session on what to wear, that's fine with me. Here we go! Fingers crossed this all works and it isn't total waste of time for you. Perhaps it's my way to get you to cancel with your current photographer and book with me just to get access.... HA Just kidding it isn't. Support that local business !
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope this has helped you in some small way. Outfits are something are bring a lot of stress to people, even me! Ask my friends! I text them all like crazy when I have my own family pictures done because I don't know what everyone should wear! What color scheme should we go with this year? Didn't we do similar to that last year?! The most important thing from this is do something true to you, I once had a session ask me what to wear, we picked out outfits together that would pop and be flattering, but then after the pictures she said "I just don't feel like the outfits are us..." It's tough because if you go into a session not knowing what to wear but then end up hating your outfits, you can't just photoshop them out. Stick to YOU. Not comfortable in a dress? Don't wear a dress! BE YOU! Be you for sessions and BE YOU in life!
I am looking to book with a photographer
I am wanting to book with a photographer but I have no idea where to start?!
Is this you? Are you feeling like this and this is what brought you to me? Well whether you book your next photography session with me or not, this blog will hopefully help you make the right decision for you.
Booking a photographer isn't easy, I get it! Even when I move and I have to find a new one, I go through so many websites looking for the "right one".
"Well Jennifer, I don't even know what the right one is... Hello that is why I asked....."
Ok ok, First let's talk about what YOUR ideal photographer is and how to find them. There are several types of photographers and photography types in general. Let's start with some basics. Do you want pictures of a special occasion like a wedding, a big birthday celebration or even a small birthday celebration. That would be an event photographer, this is where things get tricky for a lot of people because well I'm a lifestyle photographer (we'll get into that a little later) BUT I do events too.
"Jennifer, this isn't helpful I think I'm more confused...."
Photographers often specialize in certain things but still love doing other things. This is very common.
Ok ADHD let's get back on track here... (Oh Hey, I'm Jennifer and I have ADHD and you'll see it a lot through my writing like these parenthesis and side notes A LOT)
Good Grief. Ok.
When looking for an event photographer for a wedding, you can google it and search for hours through millions of pictures to see what catches your eye or you can ask your wedding planner, the person who is going to stand up front with you and tell you to say "I do" whatever that may be for you. If none of those people have suggestions for you take it to friends you know who have been recently married. Next step photographers are almost solely reliant on word of mouth, which means someone was referred to me by someone I took pictures for, or someone that saw pictures I took for someone they know. They are going to be the first people to tell you the things they loved about the photographer they used.
"Jennifer, I'm not getting married."
Cool. Totally fine. I personally specialize in lifestyle photography. This means I'll get to know you as we walk around the place we are taking pictures, I find out what you like, dislike and what makes you smile. Kids for instance, they'll be the first to tell me about the new LEGO set they built before they came to the session and I can totally relate because my teenager lives for LEGO and I know ALL about it. Finding a lifestyle photographer means you're going to get a very personal experience with your session. It will feel like you're just walking around with a friend and they say "Ok go stand over there, hold your kids hands and look at them like they just told you they loved you more than the earth loves the sun". If this sounds like what you're looking for, you need yourself a lifestyle photographer.
"Jennifer, I do have a family but I just need some pictures of myself for my business"
GOT IT! You'll be looking out for a portrait photographer that specializes in headshots. Again most photographers do a lot of things and headshots are something I do, and something I actually love! You'll find almost all photographers will do headshots because well "simple". I say that because well not all "photographers" can take flattering pictures, GASP, I can't believe she just said that. Calm down. Photographers have different skill levels, when a person wants a headshot they're going to want an experience photographer that doesn't give them that double chin look that pops its head out from time to time. So when asking questions ask how long they've been in business, do they have examples of headshots they've done before. Newsflash. They're going to send you their BEST work, so if you look at it and think... Well hopefully they have better work out there, doubt it. If you look at a persons picture and think WOW I wished I could take a picture that makes me look that amazing, that's more than likely the person you want. Let's be real, headshots are pictures of people looking their personal best and they're trying to look their best, THAT IS THE POINT. If it looks meh... find someone else.
"Jennifer, what if my sister wants something between lifestyle photography and headshots"
Sounds like they need a portrait photographer that doesn't really specialize in lifestyle photography. I am not going to say these types of photographers are easier to find because it's never hard to find a photographer. We are like realtors, we can sense when someone is looking for a photographer and we JUMP! These photographers are going to be found by searching for photographers in your area and they do more posed images. I just want that yearly pictures where were are all standing in a line looking at the camera. These are great photographers to have too! We like a little traditional in our lives right?
Did you make it this far? Wow this ended up being WAYYYY longer than I expected when I started it and I'd be surprised if you made it here, if you did, ice cream on me. Ok maybe not but I do have a local place I can recommend ;) See my other blog about supporting small business because I LOVE supporting small businesses.
Support Small Business
I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS! What does this even really mean?!
As a small business owner myself I love supporting other local small businesses! Have you taken time in your week to support at least one local small business? Did you know by supporting local small businesses you are supporting your neighbor who in turn can support you!
The concept of supporting small business is really just one big pay it forward act. By going to your local coffee shop once a week (or more) you're doing your part to keep that business in business. Say one day you want to get your co-worker a gift card for her birthday. You take some time to think what does she like? COFFEE! I know she loves coffee, I'll get her a gift card from my favorite coffee place. She takes her gift card to this coffee shop and falls in love with their iced caramel macchiato (I speak from personal experience). She then finds herself stopping by this coffee shop on her way to work, sometimes she even brings you your favorite coffee because she knows it's going to be a hard day at work. These "small" acts of supporting and sharing small businesses is much bigger than you just going and buying that $5 coffee. The same goes for your local photographer, you book a session, you recommend me, I get more business! As a small business owner who is a photographer, I love working with other businesses because we can help each other out in so many different ways! Not only can we share the good word of our businesses but we can use each others services/products regularly. The one I support your business to more likely I'll remember to tell all my friends about it. If a friend messages me and says hey let's have lunch this week, my first thought will most likely be let's go to this restaurant I love that another friend of mine owns, one because I know it's going to be good, two because I know the owner will appreciate it, and three the friend I bought will most likely love it as well and then recommend it to friends. See where all this is going?
Now Jennifer, this is all common sense. I support local businesses and really this has been 5 minutes out of my day reading this I wish I could have back, ok not really but come on we all THINK we support small business but we all know we are the first ones to go to those big name stores to get invitations to our kids party. Did you know that almost everything you get at a store you can support a local small business instead! Cookies, I got you! I have a great cookie lady! Shout out to Sugar Loves Flour of Lincoln, California! DA BEST!
Even if you specialize in one thing you can still support the same field. Can I take my own family pictures? Yes. I can. Is it miserable for everyone. Yes, yes it is! Do I support a local photographer? Yes I do! The wonderful Rebekah Townley Photography is my go to photographer ! Now I realize if you own a local tax firm you're really not going to hire someone else to do your taxes... BUT you can make sure to support someone else in some way!
Thank you for reading this blog today, this has been a passion of mine for a while now and moving to a new place it has been my main focus for a year to try and collaborate with local businesses because we are each others biggest supports. Thank you Sugar Loves Flour and Rebekah Townley for being so amazing at what you do (and I apologize for my watermark on those images while I run and manage this site I still sometimes can't seem to figure out small details like that. I am in no way claiming I took those images as they were both taken my you!)! The picture below is one Rebekah took of my husband and myself and I love it so! If you're a Sacramento area small business owner that would love to connect with me feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]
#SugarLovesFlour #RebekahTownleyPhotography
