You’ve booked your session…YAY!

You’ve planned your outfits…YAY!

You have an idea of activity to do during your session…YAY!

BUT, you’re incredibly worried about how awkward you’ll feel once the camera comes out.

I promise, it’s not just you that worries about this….most people feel awkward in front of the camera, and I’ve got you covered with my top tips to make your photography session relaxed and easy!

TOP TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION RELAXED AND EASY:

REMEMBER THESE AREN’T POSED PICTURES

When we plan your session, we’ll come up with some ideas that will have you engaged and interacting with each other. These will be activities that you would be experiencing whether a photographer was present or not. They are simple, uncomplicated activities and I’ll help you come up with some ideas for them if needed.

During the session, I’ll offer some advice and guidance if needed, but usually before you realise it, you’ll be so focused on the activity and your family that you’ll forget I’m there.

Remember, these aren’t posed pictures. You don’t have to sit and smile at the camera at a a certain angle. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You just need to relax and have fun with your family.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE KIDS

PLEASE don’t worry about your kids cooperating. Kids will be kids! If they want to run around and play and do their own thing, I’m totally fine with it. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep them engaged and can be a bit sneaky with how I capture them.

I’m very easy going, am a mother myself and very used to working with kids (they always seem to miss their nap on shoot day!), so we can work around any moods and temperaments.

If anyone is having an off day or not feeling like participating, DON’T STRESS! The best thing you can do is to stay cam and not worry about it! Everyone will feed off of your mood so if you're having fun, smiling and laughing, generally the kids will join in as well, and the fun and love will shine through in the photos!

I also won’t force kids to do something they don’t want to do and would much rather capture them engaged and happy in something of their choosing.

Maybe the plan was to do puzzles together, but the kids want to do lego instead? Well then, lego it is!

Maybe we were going for a walk along the beach, but the kids want to strip down and head into the sea instead? Looks like we’re getting wet!

DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME

I genuinely want to get to know you, so we’ll chat throughout our session. We’ll talk the latest Netflix series, all about our kids, food, hobbies and everything in between. Think of me as your new friend, who just happens to have a camera with her. While we chat though, I'll be taking pictures the entire time, so please don't feel like you always need to look at me and smile. Try and relax and enjoy your time as a family as you normally would. Ultimately, I'd rather you be looking at each other than at me!

Don’t worry if I’m getting enough good shots, or if you need to move somewhere different or adjust anything. Have trust in me that I’ve been doing this for a very long time, and I know what I’m doing. Remember you hired for me a reason! If there is something specific I want you to do, I’ll tell you. All you have to do is be present with your family, and I’ll take care of the rest.

LET GO

Ultimately, what it comes down to, is simply taking a deep breath, exhaling and letting it all go.

Let go of the expectations, the plans, the worries.

Relax and have fun.

I promise, you’ll be happy you did!

Need help with an activity to do during your session? Check out these blog posts here and here.

Need help with what to wear for your session? Check out this blog post here.

Jenny Rusby is a natural light, lifestyle and documentary photographer and specialised newborn photographer, maternity photographer and family photographer. She services all areas of Victoria, including inner Melbourne suburbs such as Richmond, Northcote, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Malvern East, South Melbourne, Elwood, as well as outer south eastern subrubs, bayside areas such as Morntington, Sorrento and Red Hill. She also services the west of Melbourne and will travel to Geelong and further on request.