Hey Ma's and Pa's! (And anyone who comes to family photo shoots!) This blog entry is for you.  And it bears good news.  Your photo session can be fun and stress free - read on for just 2 steps to a fun photo session that will have you breathe a sigh of relief!

I fully recognize parents can have a challenging time prepping for photo shoots.  Before the shoot even begins, you've done the leg work with your photographer - time and place all set. You've chosen what to wear, you've readied your kids so they can be their best.  And heck, you might've had a go-round with a reluctant photo-shy spouse. It happens.

… All this before a photo has been snapped! Now you have to make sure the kids listen to the photographer so that you can finally have a decent photo for your walls.  (Sound familiar?)

I'm here to tell you that once the photo session starts, I will do all the work!  You get to sit back, be relaxed, and enjoy our time together and the unique experience of a photo session.  Specifically, here are just 2 things that will help ease any tension:

1. Resist the temptation to direct your kids during the session. (Be a wallflower!)  If you hear me tell your child to do something, you get a holiday from making sure your child listens. Your children's behavior is now my problem (like having a babysitter and photographer in one!)  So if I say to [Lila], "Lila, please sit here," and Lila doesn't respond immediately, you do not need to say, "Lila, listen to Meghan!" I will worry about the outcome if she doesn't want to go with my ideas.  It will all be good!
2. Resist the temptation to tell your child to smile or say "cheese"!  Ooooh… this is a big one.  And a toughie at that.  It's ingrained in us all to tell our kids to say "cheese!".  Please do not.  If they actually listen to you and manufacture a "smile", it will be pretty fake and forced. Instead,  I will get a genuine smile from your kid(s).  (I have a trick or two.) And if you're in the photo, the relief from worrying about their smile you might help you have a genuine smile too!

And that's it!  I wish I could remove all the preamble efforts to a photo session too.  But the good news is that I encourage you to treat the photo session like a little parenting reprieve.  Sound good?  OK - now - can someone offer me a little parenting reprieve? (Pleeeease??  ….Anyone?  LOL.)  Please write with comments or questions - thanks and see you at the session!   -Meghan