tidbits of magic: make it a date. not a chore.

one of the ways i am most excited to celebrate this milestone month in my business is by sharing fifteen of the most valuable lessons i’ve learned in my fifteen years as a photographer. fifteen tidbits of magic, if you will.

this particular lesson is one i’ve learned both from planning photos for my own family, and from looking at sessions i’ve photographed that have gone especially well over the years. one of the things that the best sessions all have in common is that the families:

make it a date. (not a chore.)

photo sessions are most successful when seen as something your family GETS to do together. you get to celebrate how much you love each other. you get to plan a fun outing doing an activity you love. you get to take an evening to slow down and appreciate the life you have.

let’s look at family photos differently. they don’t have to just be an hour where your kids (and/or partner 🙈) are bribed to do what they’re told and then you go for a treat afterwards. they can be time spent together (no perfect behavior required!) creating magic and memories. if there’s going to be a reward, let’s build it into our time together — make being there something worth celebrating, rather than celebrating that it’s over. this simple reframe can make all the difference.

let me tell you, as your photographer, there is no better feeling than arriving to a session full of people who are genuinely happy to be there.

and in the photos we create together, it always shows ✨