As a kid, my Grandma was the main person in the family to make us take pictures. When you are a kid, at least me anyway, I just wanted to play. But Grandma would bring out the camera and take pictures 'til your cheeks hurt. I was never very fond of picture time and it may have been a reason why I love being behind the camera and don't care for 'posy' portraits. My aunt and I started making cheesy smiles every time my Grandma asked us to smile which would prolong the process. At the time, my Grandma didn't care too much for that look, but now (at least for me and my aunt) it's fun looking back at all the photos, good and bad.
I may not have enjoyed the process of taking pictures, but looking at the photos (what lead me to become a photographer) years later and remembering the fun moments spent with loved ones is special. It's a blessing to have photos because who knows the next time you will all be together. You'll also have images to pass on to family later.
Have you ever felt this way? Did you ever have photography experiences like that? It may have been boring for you as a child. It may have been an awful experience going to the photo studio, doing forced poses, the stress of everyone getting there on time and the waiting around until the session was finished, but with the right photographer, you can have a memorable and fun experience so that you'll look forward to taking portraits. Portraits can showcase more about your family's unique personalities, for instance, what you enjoy doing together or showing what your family's everyday life is like in a lifestyle session.
And of course, the most important part of having portraits taken is the product after the session is finished. Digital files are great but when was the last time you actually printed those files for gifts for the family or to decorate your home? Chances are it has been a long time. Having your images printed is one of the best parts of having your portraits taken. As a kid, I remember looking through albums of my great grandparents and hearing the stories that went along with the images. I wanted to know more and having the images made me feel that much more connected to them. Now that my great grandparents are gone, those are images I will always cherish and I can retell the stories to my family and they can get to know a part of where they come from.
I would love to answer any questions you have on creating this experience for your family! I can walk you through the process, make sure you enjoy this moment with your loved ones and that you walk away with prints in hand to share with family and friends for generations!
Send your questions to hello@biancajophotography.com