How THIS Photographer Gets Her OWN kids Ready for a Portrait Session | Corpus Christi, TX

Booking your portrait session is the first step, and for many, even that feels like a chore. For most of us, it means looking at not only our own calendar, but the calendars of each family member, and finding a date that not only works for the whole family, but also lines up with the photographer’s calendar.

Being a photographer means one less step… I schedule for a date and time that I have available and just put the kids’ calendars on hold. Actually, as a photographer, I’m always concerned that I’m going to forget to schedule yearly professional portraits of my own children! School picture time reminds me… The minute that “School Picture Day” announcement comes home, I choose a date!

Again, though… setting the date is only the first step.

​As a mother, I have all of these grand pictures in my head – from expressions to outfits to locations! Then reality steps in… I’ve done this enough to know to let go of ALL of that. And that’s when the fun begins.

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What to wear? Oh, it’s fun at my house…

“Hey kids, pick two outfits you would want to wear for pictures! Girls, preferably dresses.”

Seriously… this is how I do it. Then I see what everyone has selected. More often than not, I can make it work with one of the outfits they’ve chosen. Occasionally, I realize we need to go shopping, whether from my own closet, or actual shopping. And every once in a while, I have to ask one of them to find a different shirt… I show them what the others will be wearing and simply ask them to find something that doesn’t clash. My youngest is currently four and my oldest is thirteen. They understand. When they were younger, we would often work around the youngest one’s choices.

Now… as OCD as I tend to be, I’ve learned to let go and let them showcase their OWN personalities. It does several things… it makes them happier to participate, it reminds me of who they are (were, if I’m looking back), and actually ends of making the portraits more dynamic.

And then…?

Then we play. I’m a fan of collages of images for my wall. Something that has pictures of them smiling AND pictures of them playing. Pictures that make me smile when I see them. Pictures that make my children take pause and enjoy staring at them and remembering, often a slight smile playing at the corners of their mouths.

​And this is truly what it’s all about. Making memories. Capturing memories. Because while the days are sometimes long, the years are always so short.

Look at your calendar, then give me a call to book: 361-445-4661   ~Lori