Embracing the Chaos: My Child-Led Approach to Family Sessions | Abbotsford Family Photography

So you have booked a photographer to capture your family — which is no small feat in your busy family life and no small investment. You have planned everyone’s outfits, got everyone dressed and ready, arrived to the agreed location, and… your kids are wiggling, running, fighting, melting down, and not sitting still for the perfect photo. You start to panic and try to get them to cooperate, but to no avail. You’re stressed during the session and frustrated as you drive home, wondering why you tried and afraid there won’t be any good photos to show for all the work you put in.

But what if it doesn’t have to be that way? 

What if your family session was actually enjoyable and felt natural? What if your photographer meets you where you are at and artfully documents the truth of this season of life — in all of its beautiful, chaotic, sweet and busy glory?

Believe me, I get it. When my second was born, our dear friend and photographer Bernadette came to our home and did a newborn family session with us. And it was so fun and lovely. Until my 22 month old hurt his wrist as he was jumping on the bed. We thought, Do we take him to urgent care?! Or is he fine?! We still had an hour left in our session, and I began to panic. We spent good money on this session, we cleaned our whole home, got ourselves and the babies all ready, and now, at worst, we had to end the session, or at best, the rest of the photos would be of an unhappy toddler. 

We decided to take some time to assess him and see if the injury was minor or needed extra care. We had lots of snuggles, watched his favorite show,  made mac and cheese, and played with his stuffies. As it turns out, he was fine and just needed some ice and love. And Bernadette documented it all. Honestly, I was frustrated that our session had been marred with drama and feared that it was all a disaster. But, when I received the photos, and as I looked back on them years later, they are so important to me because they showed the truth of that stage in our life. Sometimes family life is lovely and perfect, fun and games, and sometimes it’s dramatic and involves bumps, bruises, and nursing boo boos. And Bernadette captured both of those sides in our session so gracefully. It marked a shift for me in my view of photography — that it doesn’t have to be “perfect” to be beautiful, but it just needs to be true. 

The next year, we had family photos done again, this time chasing two active toddlers, and we thought afterwards, “Wow, that was wild, I’m not sure she got any decent photos…” And the photos we received were not only beautiful, but reflected the reality of our life with young toddlers so well. 

So believe me when I say, I get it. I truly do. So that is why I approach family sessions the way I do.

First, I follow the children’s lead. Do they want to play? Snuggle? Do they like the camera, or are they afraid of it? I work with it and make it my priority to make the shoot fun for them. I get a few traditional shots in of everyone when the moment is right and the kids are ready, but otherwise, I am just seeing what naturally unfolds and documenting it.

Second, I try to create a space where everyone is free to be themselves, rather than feeling pressured to perform for the camera. One way I do that is through conversation and directing everyone’s attention to each other and to this moment in their family’s journey. I will also help create opportunities for movement if needed. I observe how everyone interacts with and loves each other and document it so you can remember later on what this stage was like. I do gently guide when needed, but otherwise I’m pretty hands off, because I feel that the best photos are photos that people actually see themselves and their family’s story reflected in when they look back at their photos later on. And the added bonus to my approach: you don’t have to suffer through an awkward or frustrating session. You may even leave thinking, That was actually fun! And you can rest assured that, no matter how exactly things play out, I will be capturing beautiful images you will cherish.

So whether you want family photos done with a mix of traditional shots and candid moments, or a full on documentary session where I just follow you all as you do your thing and you are free to entirely ignore the camera, I am here for you, to tell your family’s story in all its truth and glory. Because your life, your story, is art.