Please care less in your photoshoots - 3 tips how!
Yeah, I know - probably not something you expect to hear from a photographer…but in the kindest way possible I’m BEGGING you to please care less with your photoshoot. Booking a shoot is the bomb dot com, I get it. Super special, something you save for, something you plan, something that you hope to enjoy for years to come. I’m with you all the way so far - right up until the expectation and planning start to build those stressy vibes. Maybe a smidge of anxiety? Definitely some instincts to plan everything out and want it to be perfect. Suddenly this fun, joyful relaxed thing becomes a tiring, stressful task to get through and babe - that is SO not the bee's knees. Let me spill the tea on some of the ways to take a metaphorical vicodin for your next shoot, so the enjoyment level skyrockets.
1. LORDY ME - DON’T OVERSTRESS YOUR KIDS
I’m all for a chat with the kids to prep them for a visit from the photographer. Let’s hype it up as a positive fun super interesting activity for the day. But that's all it is - one activity in your regular busy day. I can tell you now - the best way to get those photos you’re dreaming of is to let the kids be themselves and not be fearful of the ‘big event’ that is a photoshoot. Instant anxiety inducer, and a super fab way to get all those stubborn toddlers out there to refuse to engage. Bless them. Another super clear sign to me that the kids are stressed is when they're dressed in outfits they normally wouldn’t wear. Extra stress points if it's something fancy (which has no doubt been expressed to the kids) so they feel like they’ll get in trouble if it gets dirty during the shoot. If it’s possible to find the vision you have for outfits in a style that they are comfy in - you will be kicking goals my friend.
2. LET ME DO MY THING
You’ve hired me to capture your family or event or day - hopefully because you jive with my work and want this moment to be captured beautifully and in super top notch quality. The one thing I wish I could say to everyone at that point is…trust the process. Photographers usually come with a crap tonne of experience, and tricks and hacks for how to make the shoot work - it's our job after all! This is what we know how to do. I personally love when families and friends let me know their vision or some photos they definitely want…but also trust that I will be able to capture and create the art you’re dreaming of. I will 100% get the job done, and provide the magic you’re after. Surrender to the moment and focus on your loved ones.
3. PARENTING DURING THE SHOOT
Parenting is fucking hard. Kids are chaotic. One million external things could have happened before the shoot that are coming into play at that moment. Your own anxiety is probably pumping through your veins, and all you want is for your kids to behave and follow your instructions. LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH, we have all been there. Kids are amazing little magical beings that pick up on the energy around them constantly. You have the best of intentions when you tensely ask them to ‘smile…smile please…JUST SMILE ALREADY’ You just want a nice photo of your kids for hecks sake, you’ve made these plans and paid the money and you have limited time. I see this all the time in my shoots. I’ll let you all in on a hack - leave it to me. This is my job, my passion, the thing I’ve been doing for years. I know exactly how to get your kids to relax and look at the camera. I also don’t need your kids to be perfectly behaved angels. Relax, care less and don’t feel like you need to parent hardcore the whole time! Even if it feels like chaos, trust me - it's MAGIC on my side of the lens. Take a breath, remind yourself that this is just a photoshoot. It's wonderful and fun and not the end of the world if it isn’t perfect. You’re doing an incredible job, you love your kids and family, and you are all here at this moment together. Care less about what's happening, and ENJOY IT.
I’m under no delusions that these small suggestions will solve all your anxiety and stress before you head to your shoot. I also know that you will still parent and ask your kids to smile - we’re all bloody human, and sometimes kids can be ratbags. But if you can catch yourself every now and again, and think - friggin heck I need to care less and just BE in this moment…your experience will improve exponentially. I give you all permission to care less, not look at the camera and generally give less fucks. Go out there and rock your photoshoots, legends.