Family photos don't always have to be serious.
Sometimes there's a lot of running, laughing, exploring, and, in this case, a little guy pretending to be a Transformer. 😂
I recently met this family at the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area in Brush Prairie, Washington, for an outdoor family photography session. Their 5-year-old brought plenty of personality with him, which made the session especially fun to photograph.
We spent about an hour leisurely exploring the trails rather than rushing from one pose to the next. Along the way, we looked for little creatures and discovered a praying mantis, lots of slugs and a frog. We also explored the area around the creek and an old train bridge.
The morning weather couldn't have been better. It was mostly overcast with some sunshine coming through the trees, creating soft, beautiful light without being too hot or uncomfortable.
And then there was the Transformer.
When you're photographing young kids, I've found that sometimes the best thing you can do is let them be themselves. Instead of expecting a child to stand perfectly still and smile for an entire session, I like to give them opportunities to move and play. Those moments often end up being some of my favorite photographs.
Not pictured is me wearing his favorite hat and asked if I looked like one of the cool kids now 😜
When you're photographing young kids, I've found that sometimes the best thing you can do is let them be themselves. Instead of expecting a child to stand perfectly still and smile for an entire session, I like to give them opportunities to move and play. Those moments often end up being some of my favorite photos.
Of course, we still got plenty of traditional family portraits, but we also captured the goofy expressions, playful moments, peace signs and interactions that show this families fun personalities.
That's what I want family photography to feel like: relaxed, fun and genuine. You don't need perfectly behaved kids or a perfectly posed session to create photographs you'll love.
If you're looking for a family photographer in Vancouver, Clark County, or Southwest Washington, I'd love to help create a session that lets your family personality come through.
