Top 5 Tips for Parents – Capturing Your Child's True Spirit in Professional Portraits | Family Photography by Natascha Lee Studios

Top 5 Tips for Parents – Capturing Your Child’s True Spirit in Professional Portraits | Family Photography by Natascha Lee Studios

Copyright 2013 by Natascha Lee Studios
One of the things I specialize in is capturing your child’s true spirit and personality during portrait sessions. This isn’t easy, as they are usually meeting me for a the first time, probably at a new location, I’m a stranger behind big black camera, and we are asking them to do things they don’t usually do. But, as you’ll see from my images and these kind words from super-happy portrait families, capturing stunning images of your children’s true spirit is one of the unique things I deliver to clients. While I focus (pun intended!)  locally (Broomfield, Westminster, Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Golden, Highland, Aravda, Denver, Cherry Hills) on baby, children and family portraits, these tips will apply to anyone, anywhere planning a professional portrait session with their children. Here are my top 5 tips for parents looking to have authentic images of your child: Tip 1) Select the right photographer. Look at their portfolio, and see if their style is what you are looking for. Do you prefer posed images? Or more lifestyle images, where people are relaxed and not looking at the camera?  Do you prefer indoor images shot in a studio, or perhaps in your house? Or outdoor images with nature as your backdrop, or perhaps in urban settings? An experienced photographer will have galleries for each of the types of images they shoot, and should have enough images to give you a good idea of their style. Tip 2) Budget accordingly. Expect to spend money on the right photographer, since talented photographers are in-demand and appropriately compensated for their work. Something to consider: of all the “optional” things you will spend money on this year (restaurants, movies and concerts, new clothes, spa and hair services), professional portraits will be one of the most long-lasting purchases, giving you and others the most joy for years to come.

Two Key Tasks: Find a photographer whose style you love and budget appropriately.

Tip 3) Share advance intel. Tell the photographer a few things about your child(ren) in advance – things they like to watch, read, do. That will help create a quick connection and conversation starting point. Similarly, tell your child about the exciting event you are going to do together. Build it up as something special and fun. With your child, visit the photographer’s About Me section of their website – show your children the photographer’s photo, and a bit about them. This will make your child more comfortable with the photographer.

Two Key Tasks: Tell the photographer two things your kid likes, and visit the photographer’s About Me page with your child.

Tip 4) Follow the photographer’s preparation suggestions. A experienced photographer will send you detailed instructions on how to prepare, which go beyond just selecting cute clothes for everyone. Invest time in reading them and doing all the ones that make sense for you and your family. As I tell my clients, proper preparations can take your photos from Amazing to Mind-Blowing.

 Key Tasks: If all else fails, make sure your kids are well rested, super clean (noses, eyes, face, fingernails, etc.) and select clothes your kids are comfortable in.

Tip 5) Relax. Once you have done all your preparation work, let the photographer do their job. I know it’s tempting to step in and tell you kid what to do/not to do, but that usually creates a less cooperative kid, not a more cooperative one. Professional Photographers have plenty of tricks up their sleeve, and sometimes even a roll of SmartiesTM.

Two Key Tasks: Show your child you are relaxed and having fun, and trust the photographer to get amazing images (Because you did follow tip #1, right?)

Below is a sneak peek from a recent portrait session held for a Littleton family. (Backstory: This little boy is impishly looking at the water’s edge, eying the old pieces of wood just begging to be tossed into the lake. ) This is a perfect example of capturing a child’s true personality, and I suspect it will end up being one of his mother’s favorites!

Littleton Colorado Towhead Children's Portraits Photography IMG_8898-eal-sfw - Top 10 Tips for Capturing Your Children's True Spirit in Portraits by Natascha Lee Studios IMG_8898

Capturing Your Child’s True Spirit and Personality in Vibrant Portraits – Colorado Family Photography

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Inspiration: Two of My Favorite Photographers | Broomfield Maternity, Baby and Family Photography by Natascha Lee Studios

As an artist, you get to honor the creativity inside of you, the muses.

As a professional artist, you get to do that AND have a career.

How awesome is THAT!?!?

And, you are also surrounded by other wonderful artists of many mediums, people you can share with and learn from and be inspired by.

Here are a couple of my favorite photographers; they create work I am always excited to see:

Gregory Colbert – Ashes and Snow

(Beautiful, Evocative Images of Africa, People and Animals in Spiritual Harmony)

Stephanie Rausser

(She describes her style as “happy, spontaneous, energetic, and whimsical”. And I love it because my style is similar: Vibrant, Joyful, Natural and Fun. She is a commercial photographer in California, (meaning she shoots for advertising and editorial) and if you get Parents Magazine, you will often see her work. Oh, and her website has this super cool home page where all her images fly in one at a time, like snapshots  being tossed onto a table.)

And, since I can’t imagine doing a post without an image, here is one of mine that I think does a good job of portraying Vibrant, Joyful, Natural and Fun:

Vibrant, Joyful, Natural and Fun Maternity Photography by Broomfield's Natascha Lee Studios

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