I am finally getting around to blogging family photo sessions from this fall. WHEW! What a whirlwind of a season it was, I swear I was outside at a park or at a wedding, or running around a field every weekend in October!
This family chose a little hobby farm for their location and it couldn’t have been more perfect. I had never done a really large family group shot before but taking it in a llama pasture, with the llamas right behind me doing God only knows what, made for some great natural smile and laughter. Perhaps I should bring them with me to all sessions?!
Not sure if you can see it or not, but we all had a laugh when we noticed the youngest guy in the group was sticking his tongue out! In the end the family did choose this photo as the one they most wanted to enlarge….love that they opted to capture “real life.” Here is a another of my favorite images from the session, little man still hadn’t quite warmed up to me yet, but it sure made for a darling photo.
The split rail fence along the horse pasture was one of my favorite locations at the farm for photos. Love how it goes off in the distance, and absolutely love how both of these images turned out. One of the best ways to get a great family photo? Have the family spread apart and then squeeze in together while looking at me. (And if you mention to mom that maybe she might want to “goose” dad–all the better!) That’s what I did here in the b/w photo…and it came out just perfect.
Rounding out the afternoon were these images below. We finally figured out the little guy was more comfortable holding his blankie (and having dad nearby, he is squatting behind the group although you can’t see him) which I think makes the image that much more adorable. When working with littles it always important to just go with the flow, and let them set the tone. Believe me, it’s impossible to force a 2 or 3 year old to do anything! I work with them, and what they can give me, and talk, talk, talk. All of that talking almost always warms them up and them we get some completely adorable images like the one on the right. (And while these kiddos are much older, and don’t always need warm up time with a stranger, they do need to be made comfortable when a great big camera is being pointed at them.)
I found the best way to get older kids to smile is just to act as silly as possible, talk to them a lot–even pop my head out above the camera after I focused, or have Mom do something they will laugh at. If you can get mom to dance, jump around, or act goofy kids just love it!
I hope to do session shares every Friday on the blog as we move throughout the year. I love reliving these session all over again through the blog, and hope you all enjoyed seeing them too.
I think a good tutorial is your workflow technique. I like to get my week done as fast as possible. 
great tutorial.
Amy O'H. - Great photos! Love seeing how your pros position families for great shots. But I do have to say that I am a bit disappointed- I was hoping to see one llama shot after you teased us with them being so close!