Not every child is rearing to meet new people and pose in front of a camera. This doesn’t mean you can’t schedule a family photo session with a professional photographer though. In fact, a family photo session is one of the best ways to get your child to feel more comfortable around other people.
Here is what you should know


Your Photographer Has the Necessary Experience
Chances are, your photographer has worked with many different families – some with outgoing children, some with shy children. They understand how to get children to open up and it starts with not pressuring them. A family photo session is relaxed and involves spending time with your child. Your photographer is simply there to give some general guidance and do what they do best.
What’s more remote family sessions are DONE remotely! You will be all together in your own environment, giving your child the chance to relax and warm up to the idea of smiling, making faces, posing, sitting still for a minute.


Play and Fun are a Big Part of It
Keeping in mind remote sessions can be done from anywhere.... many family photo sessions take place at home or in a place like a park. This means your child gets the chance to explore and have some fun. After a while, your child will barely remember there’s a specific reason for this adventure! Plus, you get to enjoy making some fun memories that you can look back on for years thereafter.


Portraits are Not a Must
Family sessions traditionally include portraits, but this is not a must. If you want your child to feel comfortable in front of the camera, you are going to need to make some compromises. Telling a shy child that they don’t need to stand and pose if they don't want to, makes them far more willing to play along for the shoot. Think of this more as a family outing than anything else.


To ensure everything goes smoothly, take your time to find the right photographer. Bring the fact that your child is shy to their attention so that they can plan accordingly. Whatever you do, don’t skip out on a family photoshoot because you are afraid your child won’t enjoy it. There is always a way to make it work so that you can print those beautiful memories for your home. <3
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Take beautiful images anywhere! Whether you have your own DSLR camera or love taking photos on your phone, there is always an abundance of photo opportunities in your day-to-day life.
If you don’t have a Pinterest-perfect home, this shouldn’t deter you from taking more photos. There are ways to take unique and eye-catching photos in everyday places and situations, you just need to change your approach.


Tips for Taking Unique Photos in Any Location

• Shift Your Point of View

If you spot a good photo but all of the imperfections are putting you off, change your perspective. Just a small shift in your point of view can make a massive difference. For one, changing the angle of your photo can immediately turn things around. Shooting a photo from above instantly creates a whole different photo without you having to move things around to clear away clutter and distractions. Taking a low angle can also make for an interesting photo plus it will allow you to work around specific objects.

• Let the Subject Fill the Frame

Another way that you can easily cut out anything that you don’t want to include in your photo is to fill the entire frame with your subject. Filling the frame allows you to capture all of the finer details such as your child’s cheeky smile or his dimples. Just make sure that your focus is super sharp if you want this attempt to work.

• Clean Up the Space

If it’s not too much of a mission, there is always the option of actually clearing away the objects that are taking away from the subject of your photo. You may even find that you only need to move one or two things for the photo to look 10x better.

• Darken the Background

By bringing your subject closer to a source of light, the background will automatically become darker, which is another excellent way to cut out any noise or distractions in your photo. Basically, you want to underexpose the background to create that dark effect.
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When it comes to photography, it’s important to keep in mind that some of the best photos aren’t perfect. Life is messy and beautiful at the same time, so sometimes you just need to embrace that to perfectly capture a moment.

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If you are anything like me, you like to take pictures of all of your adventures. But it is important to make sure you're LIVING in the moment and not just CAPTURING it.

Here are my top 5 tips for getting beautiful, fun images while still being fully in the moment of the adventure itself.

1. Do your research!When we go on a trip, I always try to research and find out what is in or around the area we are visiting. Is there anything historical and ancient? Beautiful viewpoints? What is the history of the area and how can we check it all out? I will literally map out a whole days' worth of events starting with breakfast, then hitting any sight-seeing spots, historical spots, museums, nature spots and such. If there are any sorts of shows going on (for example if we were visiting a ghost town and there were gun fight shows that were put on there) I find out the times so we can be there to watch. GO into it with a plan and know what you want to do.

2. Don't rush! This has to do with LIVING in the moment. For example, we went to Vegas and on the way home stopped at the Hoover Dam. Instead of just taking a pic as we went by, we stopped and took several hours exploring. We walked across it, read all the plaques, checked out the museum and gift shop, and then hiked up to the new bridge and walked across it. Take the time to really check everything out. Don't just go to one spot, snap your pic and then say ok done! You will miss out on so much doing that. Taking the time to really explore, leads to unexpected conversations with loved ones, finding cool spots you would have missed, learning something new about the area you're visiting. There are so many advantages to taking your time and really enjoying it all!

3. Know your equipment if you're taking it with you
This one is a big one! IF you are taking your equipment with you... know what lens you will be using for what and when. There is nothing worse than planning a perfect shot only to have it messed up because you used the wrong lens and had to change it and missed the moment. On the flip side of this... sometimes it's best to leave the equipment at home. At least 95% of the general population has a phone with a camera on it. Challenge yourself to use it instead of your big camera. It makes it easier to be in the moment, still capture it, and maybe learn some new tricks as well since you're using a smaller camera set up. This can be a fun way to capture your adventure without having to lug around an extra 10 pounds.

4. Trust your gut .. Depending on where you are traveling and what you are taking pictures of, make sure you are safe. Some places in the world are not as safe as they should be. Always be aware of your surroundings, do not get lulled into a sense of security. Keep your eyes and ears open and if you are in a spot or situation where your radar starts to go off telling you something isn't quite right, trust it. Better safe than sorry and no image is worth your safety.

5. Have fun!! Yes, getting that shot may be of utmost importance to you, but stop and be aware. Be thankful that you have the opportunity to even be where you are at that moment. Pinch yourself if needed, take a really good look around, and add this experience to your memory catalog. Remembering to have fun and be in the moment will help you stay relaxed and the pictures and stories you have from your adventure will be all the better for it.
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If you’re like most people, you have a few boxes and albums with old photos lying around your home. Maybe in the back of the closet or in that forgotten corner of the attic or basement. When last did you look at these photos? And how long have they been sitting in a dusty box?
Unfortunately, the reality is that photos do eventually deteriorate and fade and naturally, you don’t want to lose those memories forever, so it’s time to get busy.
Setting one day aside to sort, scan, and store your old photos is a day well spent and these tips will help simplify the process. Heck make it a family activity on a weekend and be amazed at the family stories you find being shared as you all work together to preserve your family history! 

Step 1: Find Those Photos
The first step involves gathering all the photos you want to sort through. This is also a good time to contact family members who have photos you love and want to scan. Be sure to reassure them that they will get their photos back in the same condition. **Side note here... including family members in this activity is a great way to do one giant family wide organization project that can then be printed, shared, downloaded by all. 

Step 2: Let the Sorting Begin
During this stage, you want to select the photos that are most important to you and sort them into themes, years, or life stages – whatever categories work for you. You can also use the themes of these piles for the digital folders you will be creating.

Step 3: Decide on Storage
How do you plan to store your photos once you scan them? Platforms such as Google Drive and Dropbox are ideal for this. However, you may also want to invest in an external hard drive to create an extra copy of your most precious memories. I personally love Smug Mug for this kind of organization.  Here is my referral link if you want to check it out: https://secure.smugmug.com/signup?Coupon=T6KZTL 

Step 4: Decide How You Want to Scan Your Photos
The good news is that you don’t need a physical scanner to scan your photos. There are a number of great apps available, many of which are free, that will retain the quality of your photos. Photomyne for android and Google Photo Scan are two popular options, as well as adobe scan for ios and microsoft lens. Once you know how you will scan your photos, connect the scanner or app to your digital folders.

Step 5: Scan, Save & Share
You can now start scanning your photos per pile. Sticking to one pile at a time will make it easier to match your photos to the correct digital folder. Once your photos have been uploaded and you’ve made a backup, you can share your favorite memories with the people you love.

If you love having a physical album, you can now print themed albums that follow a specific timeline. You can even combine your latest professional family photos with older family photos to create a beautiful family heirloom. Once you have things a bit organized, you will be amazed at the endless possibilities of the things you can do and make to share those images with loved ones. 

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Photos should be an integral part of every home, especially if you’ve paid a professional to take them. Displaying photos around your home is not just great reminders of memories you’ve shared, but your children are reminded of how loved they are too.
You should see your photos as extensions of your furniture and décor – they’re the finishing touch that brings your home to life.  If you’re in the process of planning your photo prints, here are some easy ways you can display them using frames.

1. Create a symmetrical display. For larger prints, opt for a symmetrical display. Placing large, framed prints side-by-side helps shape a room by giving it more structure. Plus, symmetry gives a room a gallery-type look and feel.
2. Add it to existing décor. There are no rules that say you need to hang framed prints. If you have a shelf in any area of your home, you can line up framed prints to add dimension. It also looks really good to add framed prints to shelves with existing décor such as books, vases, or nick-nacks.
3. Build a collage. Then there’s the option of creating a less structured look. Using different frames, create a collage wall. These frames don’t all need to contain family photos either, they can also contain prints, which will help break up the photos and tell a complete story. This is an easy way to get your photos to fit in with your existing wall art.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to use the same frame styles and colors, even when you’re grouping them together. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Do whatever fits in with your home and personal style.
If you’re ready to start hanging your photos, it’s highly recommended that you use craft paper to create templates. This way you can visualize the display before you commit to it by taping the paper pieces to the wall to see how your design looks. There are so many designs you can come up with to display your images! The opportunities are limitless. 

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In today’s world, thanks to technology it is easier than ever to connect with people from all over the world as a professional photographer.  Using the power of technology to offer remote photography services helps me to connect with clients, virtually/remotely, no matter where they are located. With the help of a third-party app, called the shutter app and a few behind the scenes processes, I collaborate with clients to create stunning images to capture their unique personality and style. From the comfort of their own homes or offices, clients can receive guidance on everything from outfit, selection and styling to poses and props. Remote photography sessions, offer unparalleled convenience and flexibility.

My clients can choose a time that works best for them, without having to worry about travel time or coordinating schedules or any of the other normally associated headaches that come with doing a photo shoot. And with the quick turnaround times that I offer my clients receive their professionally edit images in just a few days to their email.

This way of virtual connection isn’t just about convenience. It’s also about building trust and relationship with my clients through frequent communication and personalized attention. I get to know my clients on a deeper level and better understand their unique needs and preferences. This helps me create images that truly reflect their personality and style, resulting in images that they are proud to share with friends, family and followers.

I call this "TRUE TO YOU"  Photography and having this virtual connection is an essential part of how I offer my photography services.  By leveraging technology to connect with clients from all over the world I am able to offer a personalized, convenient, contact and stress-free photography experience that delivers TRUE TO YOU images every time.

What has technology done for you in your business? I would love to know! Tell me about it in the comments. Make sure to leave a link to your site/social media so I can come connect with you!

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