Toddler and new baby session
“Four hours seems like such a long time, I’m worried that we’ll be too boring!”
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard parents utter something similar during our consult call. But I really do find pretty much everything interesting! However, it’s not even about whether or not I find them interesting or if they do "interesting activities". It is about connections and little moments, that make up most of a family’s memories.
The benefits of making time for a longer family session are:
there's enough time for everyone to get comfortable around the camera – and nearly forget it
the less stressful time constraint helps bring out everyone's true personalities for the pictures, which results in pictures of moments that couldn't have been staged
they result in pictures in an environment that is important to the family – usually their home, their grandparents' home, or a favorite outdoor adventure spot
Documentary sessions aren't just about special occasions, but about preserving a time in your life so that you, your kids, and your grandkids can look back at them later.
Most importantly – the pictures are of your family, and the memories are yours and yours alone to keep and appreciate – who cares what anyone else thinks.
A father and son playing together. A mom bonding with her new baby. A dog desperate for attention as there will be another pair of toddler legs running about all too soon. That's what will be fun to look back on again and again.
This family lives close to San Francisco, where I followed along a few hours of their day with a toddler and a three-month new baby. I always know I'm amongst real-life photo appreciating people when I'm greeted by a toddler who's thrown his pants to the wind.
