Friday, June 3, 2011

Little Ones...Photography Post for Destin, Florida photographers

My connection with people is what I attribute to my success as a family/children photographer.  I have approximately 200 portrait sessions a year, and 99% of them are environmental sessions....meaning we meet outside for the photo shoot. And, of course, being a tourist destination, most all of you want your pictures taken at the beach!
Of those sessions, most all are of families--versus, say, couples (although I love being with the "big kids" too! :)
And within those families are several children each. So needless to say I photograph hundreds of children a year. And with all that experience under my belt, I can pretty much tell what is going to go down on a photo session.
There have been many times when I meet up with the families and one or more of the children are shy, crying or don't want to have anything to do with me whatsoever....but it never ends like that. I always have success in winning the little ones over. Most important, I believe, is due to the fact that I am VERY patient with them. And I try to build them up: "You're so handsome....look how pretty you are; you look like a princess..."etc.
You see, they are just little people, and they have feelings too. So I make it my goal to have everyone involved in the session experience a good time. And we have laughs before it is all over.
A couple of things I have learned over the years:
*When on the beach, little boys ALWAYS put their hands in the sand when I have them sitting for a pose...ALWAYS!
*I will always take the posed pictures first...then, I just let the little ones do what they do--be themselves. They are playing and having fun and I am shooting away.  Parents are always pleased with the results.
*Children always make the cutest, funniest faces when I don't even ask for it.
*I guess my background/training as a journalist/photojournalist has me always looking for that unique moment, when I can snap away!
*When there are many people/multiple families in the photo session, just let me be the focus when photographing the children. I find that the little ones especially, tend to be overstimulated when there are four or five adults in different places behind me trying to get their attention. That oftens winds up in a teary session for the child!  If parents will turn away, and just talk amongst themselves, I quickly grab that child's attention and get some great candid shots!
Just always know that I treat your children as I would my own. I have fun with them; they have fun with the beach session. And that results in happy children and happy parents!













:) Melanie

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