Does booking a session with a photographer make you tense up a little bit? Is it just not worth it to you to spend the money and commit to something that is too stressful? This shouldn’t be the case! I’m here to talk about the four reasons you may have that are causing you to stress about having pictures taken, and how to bring yourself some relief.

1. My spouse/kid hates taking pictures!

I think this might be the most common reason why people shy away from regularly having portraits done, or portraits done at all. And I get it! I’m a photographer, I obviously enjoy taking pictures a lot, but my own husband doesn’t enjoy being in them.  He’s a sport and my biggest supporter, so he bites the bullet for me when I ask him to, but when it comes down to it he would rather not. And kids are a whole other story! Some kids are shy and don’t like the attention, other kids just hate being still and told what to do, especially if you tell them to do something sweet and put their arm around their sibling. (Face-palm at the meltdowns I’ve gotten from that one).

 All of this might seem like too big of a hassle if this is you. But it doesn’t have to be a hassle. There’s a beautiful tool: incentive.

“Jordan… Are you telling me to bribe my children just for some pictures?”

Absolutely that’s what I’m telling you.

Kids will much more likely do something when they know they’re getting something out of it. Now, I’m not talking about a negotiation between you and your child. If you decide to do this they should know this is happening no matter what, so they can be miserable and get nothing or cooperate and be rewarded. And it doesn’t have to be anything big or even cost anything. Just make it something that’s a treat for them! Whether it’s a trip to the dollar store, renting a movie/video game they’ve been wanting to see, or having a big chocolate cake to eat when they get home, as long as it’s special and exciting you will probably have pictures of happy kiddos.

Below is a picture of my handsome nephew , who loathes taking pictures, but because of that incentive his parents had for him afterwards, I was able to snap some great photos of him.   

I realize your spouse is not a child, and they are less likely to go for the incentive strategy. (But if that works, go for it). What it really comes down to is explaining to your spouse how important this is to you, and how valuable portraits are. When you’re old, empty-nesters you’re BOTH going to want nice pictures from over the years to look at and cherish. I guarantee it. So maybe when your hesitant spouse really thinks about it, he/she will realize it’s worth it.

2. I feel awkward taking pictures.

There are some people that really feel unnatural while having their picture taken. Other people feel      really self-conscious in pictures. I understand how it can be uncomfortable. You’re not a model, and  you really have no idea what to do to look good in a photo.

But it is not your job to make yourself look good in a photo.

That’s your photographer’s job. They are supposed to be confident enough and to know what they’re doing to make YOU feel confident. If your photographer hasn’t asked beforehand, tell them the things you’re self-conscious about. Worried about your arms looking too big? Tell them. Worried about those post-children tummy rolls showing? Tell them. If you think it’s too silly to mention things like that, then don’t. worry. about it. Part of your photographer’s job is recognizing what flatters your body and personality and what doesn’t. If you don’t think your photographer can handle that, then you’ve hired the wrong person. Hire a photographer you believe in and relax! Let them handle the rest.

This is from a senior session I did with a lovely young lady named Carley. Carley had mentioned beforehand that she wasn’t really sure of what do in pictures. But does she look like she doesn’t know what she’s doing? No! she looks like a pro and completely natural. It was my job as her photographer to make her look and feel like this was easy.

3. What the heck do I wear?

Unless you just really want to do so, please don’t go out and spend a fortune on new, matching clothes for you and your family. You do not need to all be wearing the same colored shirt and khaki pants. There’s nothing wrong with that if that is your preference, but the reality is you’ve got options at home without having to all look the same. Mix it up a little! Find one shirt in your closet, or your spouse’s, or one of your kid’s that you really like and go from there! I usually pick one of my son’s shirts that I’d like him to wear in a session, and then I find an outfit for my husband and me that will go with my son’s shirt. Again, it doesn’t have to match. In fact, it’s BETTER if it doesn’t match. Just use colors that flow together. Versatility with colors and patterns in pictures looks so much better than one or two uniform colors.

However, there are some exceptions. This is a session I did with my sisters. We didn’t all want to have to go and buy a new outfit, but we struggled to find outfits that coordinated. We all had black, though, so that’s what we went with. And even though we are all in pretty much one color, there are different styles of shirts and different patterns. It’s possible to work with what you’ve got, just mix it up!

4. What if the pictures aren’t good?

I’ve had several people come to me telling me about past experiences with photographers who took awful pictures.  They spent A LOT of money on pictures they hated.

This is on you.

“But isn’t it the photographer’s job to take good photos?”  

You betcha.

But it’s YOUR job to hire someone who DOES take good photos. It can’t be someone who mostly takes good photos. You need to hire someone who is consistently excellent. Because even if you hire someone who takes great portraits for the majority, you have a chance of ending up in the minority. Don’t take that risk. Don’t spend good money on portraits you might end up hating and never printing. Do your research and hire someone you’re confident will deliver beautiful portraits for you and your family.

Booking a portrait session doesn’t have to be stressful! You’ve got everything you need, and the right photographer has the rest. Take a breath and enjoy capturing the love and joy in your life. You’re much more likely to look at your finished portraits and be pleased with them if they remind of you of the good time you had while taking them.

If you would like to hire me and allow me to deliver you a wonderful experience and beautiful portraits, message me on facebook.com/littlesisterphotography or email me at [email protected].