Newborn, baby and Family Photography in your own home, Dublin
Newborn, Baby and Family and extended family photographer, Dublin, Ireland
Dos and Don'ts for your family photoshoot!
I am really looking forward to photographing your family. It is my job to get as many beautiful photographs as possible in the small window that children give us before getting tired, grumpy or hungry. In order to allow me to do this I need all adults present to PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING DOS AND DON’TS!! (not all of these will apply to all age groups so ignore the bits that don’t apply- you will know which ones don’t apply)
Do
Do expect me to be on time and please be dressed and ready. If you have to choose between tidying the house and having everyone ready, please choose having everyone dressed and ready.
Don't
Don’t have the TV on for the children when I arrive. It’s a great idea to let them relax with the TV if you need the space to get ready and to preserve their energy in advance but maybe turn it off around the time I am due to arrive. If I’m running any more than 8 minutes late I will text you so please keep an eye on your phone.
Do
Do allow me to take complete charge and give all instructions and directions to the children. Many people find it very hard to allow someone to come in the their home and take over. If this is you, please give it a go. Relax, go with the flow and let me be the boss. I won’t be shy to ask if I need help, advice or even furniture moved!
Don't
Don’t introduce me to the children, I will introduce myself. I will come straight in and interact with the children. I am not being rude and ignoring the grownups! (well maybe a little).
Do
Do tell them I’m coming but you don’t need to mention too much about photographs. They usually see me as being there to play and have fun. They sometimes don’t even notice I have a camera.
Don't
Don’t worry about your children’s behaviour or fret that they are not smiling. I will manage all of this and get fabulous pictures. I have years of experience of working with children of ALL temperaments and I’m mad about each and every one of them so please allow them to be themselves. If I need your help to get them smiling or laughing, I will certainly ask.
Do
Do help me keep an eye on hair and clothes and snots though!!
Don't
Don’t worry if the children get really giddy. I get the best pictures with chaos and fun. I get the calm moments in between and very natural smiles and laughter all round.
Do
Do remember that you are in the pictures too and you want to look gorgeous. Relax and have fun but remain aware of your own facial expressions, posture, hair and smiles as much as you can. It’s very important to me that you like how you look in the pictures. Even if the kids are giddy and it all seems a bit manic, go to a zen place in your mind and serenely smile amidst the madness! Take moments to check your hair throughout the session if you’d like to. It is instinctive to exaggerate expressions when interacting with children but please try and avoid this temptation…When you are in the shots with the kids, look at them, Interact, play and mess with them but just keep half an awareness of your own expressions so that they are flattering and not overly exaggerated. Does that make sense? We want natural laughter and expressions from the children and natural but flattering expressions from you. You will see me making big exaggerated expressions to the children.. please don’t do that too!!
Don't
Don’t worry about light.. even on dull days I can capture beautiful flattering light.
Do
Do have blinds and curtains up and open and rugs removed from wooden floors. I ask you to remove rugs because wooden floors can make a really nice background when I’m photographing children from above.
Don't
Don’t worry about your house. I know exactly where to use and what angles to use. I am not photographing your house and I usually use a tight frame and I am great at editing so I can make crayon marks on the walls, breakfast crumbs on the floor etc disappear. Also backgrounds are beautifully blurred and out of focus.
Do
Do a little tidy up but don’t stress about it. Do have beds and side lockers tidy .
Don't
Don’t try to guess though where in the house I will use though.. This is immediately clear to me as soon as I walk in to any room. I may use corners or places that you wouldn’t even have guessed I’d even consider.
Do
Do expect me to go upstairs. Please don’t worry if it’s not all tidy though. I am totally used to this and I’m just as comfortable in your house as I am in my own. If I need you to move a clothes horse, a pile of towels, clutter from a window sill or any other totally normal house things.. I will ask.
Don't
Don't worry if it all feels like a little bit of mayhem. This is how I get the shots. Just trust in the process!!
Do
Do please always be vigilant about safety. If you feel someone is at risk of falling, bumping heads etc.. intervene!! That’s something that I always need help to keep an eye on.
Don't
Don’t mention sweets, treats, ice-cream during the session. I have my own little ways of getting them on board but in my experience promising treats doesn’t work.. all they can think about, from that point onwards, is treats. You know the deal!
Do
Do ignore any sudden “I’m hungrys” coming from the children during the session. I will get them back on track. There’s no need for food breaks. It always just ends up in hours of editing biscuit crumbs off faces, rice cakes from between teeth or blueberry splodges off dresses. We probably shouldn’t ignore requests for water though!
Don't
Don’t worry if you hear me making random noises to get the children’s/baby’s attention . Noises are much more effective than words.
Do
Do expect me to make some age appropriate “rude words” such as poop, fart or stinky (I know my audience) . If there is another word for fart in your house. .. please let me know !!
Don't
Don’t overthink clothes. As long as everyone is comfortable and not too warm and wearing colours that suit them it will be fine. It always is
Do
Do expect that you will forget all these instructions and find yourself directing the kids or telling them to smile /calm down/behave/ stop picking your nose etc so please DON’T be offended if I ask you to shhhhhhhhh! (honestly I cannot find a way to remind parents of this without sounding rude so please know that I mean it in the kindest possible way!! I totally understand that it is hard to step back – I’d be the very same). If I need your help or input I will ask without hesitation.