If the thought of getting your whole family ready for pictures has you wondering “How in the world are we going to pull this off?”—I promise, you're not alone!
Maybe you're worried your toddler won't sit still.
Maybe your kids have decided that smiling for pictures is suddenly the worst thing you've ever asked them to do.
Maybe your husband isn't exactly thrilled about having his picture taken.
Or maybe you are the one who feels a little uncomfortable in front of the camera.
I get it.
And that's one of the biggest reasons I want my family sessions to feel relaxed and enjoyable instead of stressful.
You don't have to show up knowing how to pose. You don't have to have perfectly behaved children. And you definitely don't have to know what to do with your hands. That's my job. 🤎
Before Your Session
Once you've booked your session, I'll help you figure out the details.
We'll talk about your location, what you're thinking for outfits, and anything else you may be wondering about. If you aren't sure what location would work best, that's okay too! I have several favorites around St. Marys and the surrounding area, and I'm always happy to help you choose.
I also have a Welcome & Location Guide that I send to my clients with some of my favorite locations and tips to help you prepare.
And if you have a location that's special to your family?
Tell me about it!
I'm always up for trying new locations, and sometimes the places that mean the most to you make the best photographs.
What Happens When You Arrive?
First things first—take a breath! 😂
We're not going to jump straight into making everyone stand perfectly still and smile at the camera.
I'll talk with you, get everyone comfortable, and let things happen naturally.
I'll give you direction when you need it, but I'll also give you space to interact with each other.
Sometimes I'll have you all look at the camera.
Sometimes I'll ask you to walk together.
Sometimes I'll tell Dad to make the kids laugh.
Sometimes I'll have everyone snuggle together.
And sometimes I'll simply step back and let you be a family.
Those in-between moments are some of my favorites.
What If My Kids Don't Cooperate?
Please don't stress about this.
Seriously.
Kids are kids.
They get distracted. They get silly. They don't always want to smile. Sometimes they need a snack, a break, or a minute to run around.
That's okay.
I don't expect your children to behave like little models for the entire session.
Some of my favorite family photographs are the ones where a child is laughing, running toward Mom, giving Dad a giant hug, or doing something completely unexpected.
So please don't spend the entire drive to your session threatening your kids with no dessert if they don't smile. 😂
We'll work with them—not against them.
What If I'm Awkward in Pictures?
This is something I hear all the time.
“I hate having my picture taken.”
“I don't know how to pose.”
“I never know what to do.”
“I always look awkward.”
Here's the thing:
You don't have to be a model.
I'll guide you.
My goal isn't to put you into a bunch of stiff poses that don't feel like you. I'll give you little prompts and things to do so you aren't standing there wondering what you're supposed to do with your hands.
And I'll encourage you along the way.
Because I truly want you to walk away from your session thinking:
“Wait...I actually look really good.”
I love giving people the opportunity to see themselves through my lens in a way they may not always see themselves in the mirror.
I'm Not Looking for Perfect
I think sometimes we put way too much pressure on family pictures.
Everyone has to coordinate perfectly.
Everyone has to smile.
Nobody can blink.
The kids have to behave.
Mom needs to look amazing.
Dad needs to cooperate.
And somehow we have to make the whole thing look effortless.
But your family isn't perfect.
And that's what makes your family yours.
I want to capture the way your little one reaches for your hand.
The way your kids laugh together.
The way your husband looks at you when you aren't paying attention.
The little personalities that make each of your children different.
The hugs.
The giggles.
The chaos.
The love.
That's the stuff you'll want to remember.
Why These Photos Matter to Me
This is probably the biggest reason I love what I do.
A photograph can seem like such a small thing when you're taking it.
You look at your kids every single day.
You see the same faces at breakfast.
You hear the same little voices.
You know the silly things they do.
And then somehow, almost overnight, they're bigger.
They're graduating.
They're moving out.
They're starting families of their own.
And those everyday moments that felt so ordinary suddenly become the moments you'd give anything to step back into.
That's why I believe photographs are about so much more than having something pretty to hang on your wall.
They're pieces of your story.
I think a lot of the way I see people has been shaped by my family, my faith, and the experiences I've had throughout my life. Life hasn't always been easy or fair, and those experiences have taught me how important it is to lead with kindness, understanding, and a little grace. I'm a pretty emotional person, and I genuinely care about people and the stories they carry. I believe everyone has something beautiful about them, even if they don't always see it themselves. If I can speak a little life into someone, make them feel comfortable, or help them see themselves in a different light, that's something that means a lot to me.
Let's Make Some Memories
So if you've been putting off family pictures because you're worried your kids won't cooperate, you're uncomfortable in front of the camera, or you're just not sure where to start...
Come as you are.
We'll figure out the rest together.
I'll help with the planning.
I'll guide you during the session.
I'll chase the little ones when necessary. Might be out of breath afterwards but we will get through it together!😂
And I'll be there looking for all those little moments that make your family your family.
Because years from now, I don't want you to just remember what everyone looked like.
I want your photographs to remind you how it felt to be together. 🤎