Ready for a different kind of family photo session?

You’ve come to the right place! I’m Desiree, a family photographer in Stow, Ohio who focuses on capturing fun, active photos for you and your loved ones! Keep reading for my top three signs it’s time to book a documentary-style session for your next family photos!

1) You want gorgeous photos that truly capture your family’s personality

Most family photo sessions are posed, and while that is beautiful in its own right, it can sometimes feel like posed sessions are not truly capturing the heart and soul of your family. An all-posed session is not necessarily focused on capturing you and your partner doing a fun activity with your kids, or when your toddler is experiencing absolute joy flying a kite for the first time, or when your teen is having fun learning to cook homemade pasta with their grandma. A documentary-style session with me IS focused on capturing exactly those kinds of sweet moments.

2) You find your self saying “I’m awkward” or “we’re awkward” to your photographer

Look, I’ve been here! I was (and still am) always that person warning my photographer that me and my husband are awkward in front of the camera. With photo sessions and family sessions especially, I honestly think it’s hard NOT to be awkward in front of the camera. There’s the pressure to help everyone look perfect, show your good angles, wrangle your children, and make sure everyone stays happy. With all that going on, of course sometimes photos end up feeling awkward! Who on earth can remember what to do with their hands when they’ve got all of those priorities whirling through their head?!

Well, with a documentary-style family session we can change this. These sessions aren’t meant to be perfectly posed, they’re meant to be candid. You don’t have to worry about being awkward. You and your family can relax and simply enjoy the experience of being together and doing something fun. Meanwhile, I’ll be capturing beautiful photos of all of you!

3) You think photo sessions are stressful and everyone ends up unhappy

I’ve been here too. Seriously. Photo sessions are expensive and you don’t necessarily get a do over if something doesn’t go as planned. You want your outfit to look perfect, you probably also want your kids and partner to look perfect… It can start to feel like a lot! BUT when you are planning a documentary-style family photo session around a fun activity, it can take a lot of stress off.

How so? Well, you’re not going to have to worry as much about keeping everyone happy. It can be really hard to keep your kids happy during a posed photo session. If your kids are little, they probably want to be doing something fun! They usually do not want to be standing still and smiling, If they are older, they probably think a family photo session sounds kind of boring, and they’d rather be doing anything else. But that can be hard for YOU when all you want are nice photos of everyone.

That’s where a documentary-style family session can save the day. If everyone is spending time together doing something entertaining and fun, it usually means they are happy and content as well. And honestly, they might even forget they are having their photo taken!

Ready to take the next step?

Did this post resonate with you? I think that’s the biggest sign a documentary-style family session is right for you! Contact me to get started on your journey to fun, exciting family photos!