Hi Friends,
As many of you have seen on Instagram, we recently took our family maternity photos. It had been a while since we took professional photos as a family and to be honest I was terrified of how Lia was going to hold up. I kept thinking if Lia melts down, Zoey and Marcos will loose it causing me to loose it as well lol. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Our shoot went well, even though Lia only lasted 10 minutes of the 30 we booked and only allowed my husband to put her down twice during those 10 minutes. So I have some tips for you.
Find a photographer who has experience with children
This is so important. A photographer who normally does family sessions will know how to get your kiddos to smile and cooperate. And if they don’t cooperate- your photographer will know when to snap the photo so no one will ever know. Lia smiled a handful of times and the rest she was not having it- but can you tell? Nope, why? Because our photographer Jackie from Jackie Ceja Photography was amazing and knew exactly what to do.
Find a photographer that shoots the style you want
This is HUGE! Marcos and I love Bright & Airy photos. When seeking a photographer I made sure to look for someone who’s style was similar to what I wanted. I made sure to follow her on Instagram so I could get a glimpse into the style of photos she shot. That is how I became 100% certain that Jackie was the perfect fit for us.
Make sure kids nap and eat prior
This one seems pretty self explanatory. We cannot prevent crazy behaviors from our kids, that is obvious lol. But We can sure try to make it all as easy as possible for all our sakes! I made sure Lia had her nap and was well fed and even then Jackie had a short window before Lia was done with it.
Bring snacks
Snacks solve I say 98% of my problems as a mom. Angry kid while shopping? Snack! Tantrums in public? Snack! They help keep me happy too I won’t lie, specially right now! You can give your little ones a snack while photos are taken of other family members.
Book a reasonable amount of time
Think about what you want overall and how many different styles and photos you are seeking. If you want something quick & you know your kids will not cooperate as easily, go for a shorter session. However, if you have a big family or you want a large variety of photos (like we wish for our newborn session) then book a longer session. Jackie has great options and is also a great resource to ask. She will honestly let you know what she thinks she can work with.
Talk to your photographer about your outfits
I think I bugged Jackie a lot about this. She knew the scenery and the style of photos we wanted. I sent her the ideas for outfits and sought out her advice. One thing I have learned is you do not want an overbearing print when taking photos. She was able to guide me with the outfit for my husband as well so he was able to stand out yet still be in sync! We ended up with these beautiful dresses gifted to us from Elestory & my husband looked amazing in his linen blazer, jeans, and a light blue undershirt. With the help of Jackie we were able to coordinate the casual but more formal look I wanted.
Share a bit about your family
A few days before the photos I shared with Jackie a little about about my family. This was not our first rodeo and as a blogger mamma I know what my family gets like behind the camera. I shared with her what my kids liked, didn’t like, what made them smile, and just a bit about how we work as a family. Sharing just a little of background made Jackie feel more comfortable and better prepared to deal with my crazy bunch
Relax & have fun!
We ended up having such a blast. Jackie gave us some sneak peaks while she was shooting and I was extra excited to see the final results. One thing I really appreciated about Jackie was how she gave us the first few minutes to just relax and unwind. As the shoot progressed our photos got even more beautiful because we all got even more comfortable. Even with Lia checking out early we had such a beautiful selection of photos!
You can view our full gallery here!
