My Favorite Family Sessions Aren't Perfect
If you're worried your kids won't behave during family pictures, I have some good news.
Kids are supposed to act like kids.
Really.
When you book a session with me, I promise I'm not expecting tiny adults who stand perfectly still, smile on command, and never get dirt on their clothes.
That wouldn't be much fun anyway.
Your children have never met me before. To them, I'm just a lady carrying a camera who's asking them to look this way, stand over there, and maybe even smile. That's a lot to ask of someone who's more interested in chasing butterflies or seeing if the cows want to be friends.
I get it.
I'm a mom too.
My own kids have spent years being my practice subjects, and believe it or not, they aren't exactly lining up for photos anymore. My son is getting older, and there are times he'd rather I leave the camera at home altogether. I respect that. Every child has their own personality, and every stage of childhood deserves that same respect.
That's why I don't expect perfection from your family either.
If your toddler cries...
We'll take a break.
If your little one wants to explore...
Let's explore.
If the wind decides today is the day to show off...
We'll use it.
If your boots get muddy...
Even better.
And if your child gets sick on the way to your session?
Please don't panic.
Send me a message.
We'll find another day.
Life happens, and family photos shouldn't become another reason to feel stressed.
Some of my favorite galleries have included toddlers who refused to sit still, dresses caught by the wind, curious dogs that wandered into the frame, and children who spent more time laughing than looking at the camera.
Those aren't mistakes.
They're memories.
Out on the farm, we're working with real life instead of trying to control it. The weather changes. The grass grows a little wild. The cows don't always cooperate. Sometimes the rooster thinks he's running the session.
That's part of the charm.
The goal has never been perfection.
The goal is connection.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give parents is this:
Don't spend the whole session asking your child to smile.
Smile at them instead.
Talk to them.
Laugh with them.
Pick them up.
Tickle them.
Hold their hand.
Those little moments are usually where the magic happens, and while you're busy loving on your family, I'll be quietly capturing it all.
One thing that's become especially important to me as both a photographer and a mom is respecting your family's privacy. If you prefer that your children's images aren't shared on social media or used in my portfolio, I completely understand. Every family has different comfort levels, and I'll always honor yours.
If you do choose to let me share a few favorites, know that it means more than you might realize. It allows future families to see what a session at Otter Creek Acres truly looks like—not perfectly posed, but full of genuine connection, laughter, and love.
At the end of the day, I don't want you to remember whether everyone's hair stayed in place or whether your youngest sat still for thirty seconds.
I want you to remember the evening your family laughed together, wandered through the fields, got a little dirt on their boots, and simply enjoyed being together.
Because those are the photographs you'll treasure the longest.
