I find that families can get so tense about their session. There's no need. 

Maybe it's because we have this in mind.

Brothers

 We are just bombarded with perfect images from print to electronic media. Smiles, eyes to the camera. Like say the cover of Parents Magazine for instance. Or a babyGap ad. But there are so many things that go into that one image that you see.  There are professional baby wranglers for one. Yes, that's what they are called. They travel around from shoot to shoot with a tote bag of toys and feather ticklers, used to get the child's attention and draw their eyes to the lens while invoking the desired expression. It's hard work. And here's the clincher. There's always more than one. Especially babies and toddlers. There are at least several selected for the shoot. So the one that is cooperative and allows a rapport to grow with the wrangler, they will get the one winning shot. 

So parents don't be so tense. You don't have an extra set of kids in case they have a different idea of what they want to do.  

Because sometimes this happens.

Silly

Then this happens.

Silly on and Silly two Or this and this.

Mind of his own What camera

Then the only thing you can do is turn it upside down.

Family fun

Until eventually you get this.

Family of Five

The point is not perfect portraits but to perfectly capture who your family is, who your children are, right here, right now with all of their quirks and imperfect splendor. Because that is how you really remember your loves. So just relax. Enjoy the process and the destination will always take care of itself.

Thanks for reading!