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I love babies but I always warn parents that I cannot guarantee I will get any smiles…I mean, I am a stranger holding a big honkin camera making weird animal noises, trying to catch the baby’s attention. Usually they just stare at me wondering who this weirdo could be.  Miss Katherine wasn’t sure what to think of me and suddenly it was like the sun was shining because the smiles came! Her entire little face lit up and she allowed her sweet little personality to come out! I loved doing this session, cute babies help but also great parents who were well prepared and easy going.

I love babies but I always warn parents that I cannot guarantee I will get any smiles…I mean, I am a stranger holding a big honkin camera making weird animal noises, trying to catch the baby’s attention. Usually they just stare at me wondering who this weirdo could be.  Miss Katherine wasn’t sure what to think of me and suddenly it was like the sun was shining because the smiles came! Her entire little face lit up and she allowed her sweet little personality to come out! I loved doing this session, cute babies help but also great parents who were well prepared and easy going.

New Brunswick has some amazing beaches and New River Beach on the southern shore is one of the best in the province.

The high tide can mean a quarter mile of beach or only few metres.

It is the perfect place to have your yearly family photos taken.

New Brunswick has some amazing beaches and New River Beach on the southern shore is one of the best in the province.

The high tide can mean a quarter mile of beach or only few metres.

It is the perfect place to have your yearly family photos taken.

Family pictures can be very stressful when you are trying to get ready, get there and keep little ones smiling at a stranger with a camera! It doesn’t have to be so stressful,  here are my top 5 tips for family pictures!!

1. Know Your Schedule and Adjust if Necessary

When you book make note if this will interrupt nap time, will there be a tight time span from picking up from daycare? Will you have enough time to eat dinner? Do you have enough time to get yourself ready? Majority of photographers may not have weekends available so this means your session may be during the work week, make sure you have the time you need. It may require leaving work early or having a prepared supper as soon as you go home. For little ones and nap times, if you can change or move the nap schedule a little bit it may make a happier baby. The key is to be a little flexible and make sure you have more time then you think you will need.

2. Prepare Your Clothing

Are you not sure what to wear? Ask your photographer well in advance! Make sure you try on all clothing (you do not want to find out that those pants do not fit your son the day of pictures!) and double check in the mirror. Also make sure the clothing is adjustable for the weather, you may need to add sweaters for colder temperatures or take sweaters off for hotter days. Pictures can be very miserable if everyone is chilled from the cold fall breeze. Plan accordingly. Lay everything out the night before and do not forget socks and jewellery!

3. Know Where You are Going

If you are going to a location that your photographer has picked out and you are not 100% sure either use Google Maps or ask to meet your photographer at a well known location like a school or business. You can follow them to the spot and not lose any time from your location. If your photographer is using natural light and your session is scheduled in the evening, losing any time may mean that your session will have to be cut shorter due to the loss of light.

4. Non Messy Snacks

For younger kids it can be a very good idea to have a few non messy snacks hidden away. Just in case someone decided that they were not going to eat dinner that night (I am a mother of picky eaters and this happens always when we need to go somewhere after our meal!), having a little snack in the middle of a session if someone is getting really cranky can help. Snacks that will not be messy are the best! Bringing some wet wipes helps too. Also, think about what everyone has eaten before the session…candy that stains mouths and lips a bright colour are not ideal (like orange pop moustaches!).

5. Act like Having Your Pictures Take Will be SOOOOOO Much Fun

Some people look forward to having their pictures one like a root canal and guess what? Your children can feel that vibe. The result is stiff and cranky kiddos and stressed out parents. Fake it folks! Act like this is going to be SOOOO much fun, that you cannot wait to get your pictures done! Tell them how much fun it is going to be! With tons of patience and and air of excitement, your kids will be more willing to co-operate.

Family pictures can be very stressful when you are trying to get ready, get there and keep little ones smiling at a stranger with a camera! It doesn’t have to be so stressful,  here are my top 5 tips for family pictures!!

1. Know Your Schedule and Adjust if Necessary

When you book make note if this will interrupt nap time, will there be a tight time span from picking up from daycare? Will you have enough time to eat dinner? Do you have enough time to get yourself ready? Majority of photographers may not have weekends available so this means your session may be during the work week, make sure you have the time you need. It may require leaving work early or having a prepared supper as soon as you go home. For little ones and nap times, if you can change or move the nap schedule a little bit it may make a happier baby. The key is to be a little flexible and make sure you have more time then you think you will need.

2. Prepare Your Clothing

Are you not sure what to wear? Ask your photographer well in advance! Make sure you try on all clothing (you do not want to find out that those pants do not fit your son the day of pictures!) and double check in the mirror. Also make sure the clothing is adjustable for the weather, you may need to add sweaters for colder temperatures or take sweaters off for hotter days. Pictures can be very miserable if everyone is chilled from the cold fall breeze. Plan accordingly. Lay everything out the night before and do not forget socks and jewellery!

3. Know Where You are Going

If you are going to a location that your photographer has picked out and you are not 100% sure either use Google Maps or ask to meet your photographer at a well known location like a school or business. You can follow them to the spot and not lose any time from your location. If your photographer is using natural light and your session is scheduled in the evening, losing any time may mean that your session will have to be cut shorter due to the loss of light.

4. Non Messy Snacks

For younger kids it can be a very good idea to have a few non messy snacks hidden away. Just in case someone decided that they were not going to eat dinner that night (I am a mother of picky eaters and this happens always when we need to go somewhere after our meal!), having a little snack in the middle of a session if someone is getting really cranky can help. Snacks that will not be messy are the best! Bringing some wet wipes helps too. Also, think about what everyone has eaten before the session…candy that stains mouths and lips a bright colour are not ideal (like orange pop moustaches!).

5. Act like Having Your Pictures Take Will be SOOOOOO Much Fun

Some people look forward to having their pictures one like a root canal and guess what? Your children can feel that vibe. The result is stiff and cranky kiddos and stressed out parents. Fake it folks! Act like this is going to be SOOOO much fun, that you cannot wait to get your pictures done! Tell them how much fun it is going to be! With tons of patience and and air of excitement, your kids will be more willing to co-operate.

(This blog post is part of a blog circle, after you are finished reading click the link at the bottom to read another ‘Letters to Our Daughters’)

Dear Cecilia,

You stopped sitting still. No longer do you want to sit and cuddle, you are too busy. The world is your playground, everyday you are discovering. Everything is new, everything must be touched, explored, tasted and stared at until it makes sense.

In some ways, I mourn my baby that is disappearing and morphing into a toddler. I also welcome this funny toddler, with a sense of humour, with a presence that can be heard throughout the household. You like your routines, you prefer your bed, to any other place to rest your head. You listen for the sound of your Daddy every afternoon.

As busy as you are you, you also take your time. There is no rush for you to walk, you are happy in your playpen with your pile of toys, that your brothers and sister give you. You seem to laugh at us when we ask if you are going to step on your own. Your big blue eyes tell us you are in no hurry. You will venture on those chubby legs when you feel the time is right.

When I photograph you, you like to remind me that you are no longer a little baby…you are my big girl who was just put on the floor…and you crawl away and laugh at your crazy mother! Taking pictures of you now requires skill and patience but I have so much practice from you brothers and sisters and you do not know all my tricks yet.

After bath time, in your fuzzy jammies, drinking your bottle of milk I find my baby again. Here, you cuddle close to me. Here, you you are still. In these quiet moments I stare at your capable little fingers. Chubby and soft as satin. Round with little dents and dimples. This evening those little fingers discovered with Daddy the wonders of a light switch. To us older folk the light switch is nothing to stare at but to you it was magic! You made light and took it away. As you finishes those last drops of milk, your eyelashes are fluttering because you are tired from todays adventures.

Our bedtime ritual is always the same, tucking the quilt around you, making sure Sock Monkey and Kitty are in either arm, a binkie in your mouth, the soft lulling sounds of the fan and the twinkling music from your mobile.

As you drift to sleep, and for a few short hours will be quiet and still. While the house is quiet I write this letter to you, my little daughter.  I know the silence  will not last long because tomorrow will bring another adventure.

.

To read another blog post from this series, click here to read Heather Meyer’s Letters to our Daughter.

(This blog post is part of a blog circle, after you are finished reading click the link at the bottom to read another ‘Letters to Our Daughters’)

Dear Cecilia,

You stopped sitting still. No longer do you want to sit and cuddle, you are too busy. The world is your playground, everyday you are discovering. Everything is new, everything must be touched, explored, tasted and stared at until it makes sense.

In some ways, I mourn my baby that is disappearing and morphing into a toddler. I also welcome this funny toddler, with a sense of humour, with a presence that can be heard throughout the household. You like your routines, you prefer your bed, to any other place to rest your head. You listen for the sound of your Daddy every afternoon.

As busy as you are you, you also take your time. There is no rush for you to walk, you are happy in your playpen with your pile of toys, that your brothers and sister give you. You seem to laugh at us when we ask if you are going to step on your own. Your big blue eyes tell us you are in no hurry. You will venture on those chubby legs when you feel the time is right.

When I photograph you, you like to remind me that you are no longer a little baby…you are my big girl who was just put on the floor…and you crawl away and laugh at your crazy mother! Taking pictures of you now requires skill and patience but I have so much practice from you brothers and sisters and you do not know all my tricks yet.

After bath time, in your fuzzy jammies, drinking your bottle of milk I find my baby again. Here, you cuddle close to me. Here, you you are still. In these quiet moments I stare at your capable little fingers. Chubby and soft as satin. Round with little dents and dimples. This evening those little fingers discovered with Daddy the wonders of a light switch. To us older folk the light switch is nothing to stare at but to you it was magic! You made light and took it away. As you finishes those last drops of milk, your eyelashes are fluttering because you are tired from todays adventures.

Our bedtime ritual is always the same, tucking the quilt around you, making sure Sock Monkey and Kitty are in either arm, a binkie in your mouth, the soft lulling sounds of the fan and the twinkling music from your mobile.

As you drift to sleep, and for a few short hours will be quiet and still. While the house is quiet I write this letter to you, my little daughter.  I know the silence  will not last long because tomorrow will bring another adventure.

.

To read another blog post from this series, click here to read Heather Meyer’s Letters to our Daughter.

I shy away from the camera. I am not comfortable in front of the camera. Part of the reason is being self conscious and the other part it not being control. I know how to make nice images, I like being able to adjust the pose and positions. Being in front of the camera I have to relinquish some of that control and I need to let go of those self conscious thoughts. More importantly I feel a deep need to be in front of the camera. My children are growing too fast, like all children. I also need to face that there will be a day I will not longer be here (I personally hope not for many, many decades to come!) and that there are few pictures that include me.

This afternoon, I set up the camera, grabbed Cecilia and Peter, my (almost) 9 year old, was in control of the shutter button.

My kids don’t see how many pounds I am overweight, they don’t know or care that it was a bad hair day. They only see ME. Mommy. Mom.

My goal is to make sure I am in more pictures with my children, to make more of an effort. It isn’t about me, it is all about them.

I shy away from the camera. I am not comfortable in front of the camera. Part of the reason is being self conscious and the other part it not being control. I know how to make nice images, I like being able to adjust the pose and positions. Being in front of the camera I have to relinquish some of that control and I need to let go of those self conscious thoughts. More importantly I feel a deep need to be in front of the camera. My children are growing too fast, like all children. I also need to face that there will be a day I will not longer be here (I personally hope not for many, many decades to come!) and that there are few pictures that include me.

This afternoon, I set up the camera, grabbed Cecilia and Peter, my (almost) 9 year old, was in control of the shutter button.

My kids don’t see how many pounds I am overweight, they don’t know or care that it was a bad hair day. They only see ME. Mommy. Mom.

My goal is to make sure I am in more pictures with my children, to make more of an effort. It isn’t about me, it is all about them.

Josh and I have been feeling like winter never wanted to let go but on Good Friday we could feel Spring finally arriving and went to spend a day in St Andrews NB! We packed up the kids, dug the stroller out of storage and headed out. St Andrews has been a favorite place for us to escape to for years, the tourist season has not hit yet and the streets are very quiet but perfect for our little gang to run around and explore.

The kids had a great time running down Water Street, pearing into the closed stores, asking when tourist season would begin. They were a little louder than we we would normally allow them to be but seeing the streets were empty we let them have a little freedom.

They explored the Blockhouse, asked a million questions, the same questions they ask every year but somehow that never gets old. Climbing the canons has proved to be an easier task now that they are a bit older and competitions quickly erupted to who could climb to the top the quickest.

With the tide slowly making its way to the shore and the chill creeping into the air, headed back to our van.

Josh and I have been feeling like winter never wanted to let go but on Good Friday we could feel Spring finally arriving and went to spend a day in St Andrews NB! We packed up the kids, dug the stroller out of storage and headed out. St Andrews has been a favorite place for us to escape to for years, the tourist season has not hit yet and the streets are very quiet but perfect for our little gang to run around and explore.

The kids had a great time running down Water Street, pearing into the closed stores, asking when tourist season would begin. They were a little louder than we we would normally allow them to be but seeing the streets were empty we let them have a little freedom.

They explored the Blockhouse, asked a million questions, the same questions they ask every year but somehow that never gets old. Climbing the canons has proved to be an easier task now that they are a bit older and competitions quickly erupted to who could climb to the top the quickest.

With the tide slowly making its way to the shore and the chill creeping into the air, headed back to our van.