El Dorado Hills Family Photographer- why you should just book that photoshoot!

My son and I have back to back birthdays! It makes for 2 days of fun (and stress) in our household! Often on my birthday, Jax is exhausted from all the excitement and too much sugar of his.

This year I decided to get smart used the “but it’s my birthday” card to my advantage to do something that I love but my son dislikes. Can you guess?

Yes, taking pictures!

I’m not sure if it’s just his natural personality to hate being photographed or the result of having a Mama who is a photographer but he is not a fan! The end result of most of our pictures together is a bunch of fake expressions, stress and perhaps 1 or 2 ok pictures.

This year I said, “all I want for my birthday is to do a photo shoot!” And well, the birthday person always gets to choose the activity! Oh I played that card hard and well, I think this might just have to become my birthday tradition because it worked! We had fun and we captured some real emotions! Jax even claimed “it was a little fun but just a little.”

And let’s be honest, getting photoshoot ready is not always thrilling. But to have pictures you love is a wonderful reward and makes the effort all worth it. I’m embarrassed to admit that I allowed Jax’s distaste for photoshoots stop us from doing professional family pictures for years. But I refuse to allow that anymore. This image means the world to me. Jaxson and I just came off of being shelter in place buddies.  Greg is an essential worker and was busier than ever during 2020. Jax and I developed a special bond during that time that I will always cherish and this picture wraps up that feeling for me.

Does the idea of family pictures come with mixed emotions? Do you love the idea of having pictures you love but allow the dread of organizing it all and bribing the children stop you in your tracks?

Well, learn from me! Find an angle to make it work, such as your birthday or Fathers day or Mother’s Day! Santa is watching even works for late fall sessions!

I also do my best to keep sessions lively and moving. I like to find a few different spots at one location and move the photoshoot around. If things are not working well in one location sometimes it can work great at the 2nd location!

Also as a parent I know, children often save that “behavior” just for their parents. It’s amazing how children will cooperate for me but not their parents, so let me be in charge! I used to be a teacher so let take the stress off your hands!!