“Every moment with your child is a gift.”

“YAY another family session” – said no dad ever!

Family session (or any photo session) is probably on the top of the list for least favorite things any man will want/choose to do. Lord knows how much convincing and preparing wives may or may not have to do to get her man to do pictures. LOL. But, you know what they say… “Happy wife, happy life”.. Any good husband knows that these portraits are important for mom so they always cave in and agree to be somewhat cooperative.
But why are dads so against photo sessions?
The reality is: Photo sessions can be very stressful. Who would willingly put themselves through stress if they could avoid it? NO ONE.
Oh the things I’ve heard..
“I have been preparing myself for the next hour of anguish”
“Can we be done already?”
“Why do we need photos anyways?”

And the list goes on…

I understand that most people don’t love being in front of the camera and feel very uncomfortable… I know I am like that more often than not. But working with families year after year helps ease the awkwardness that some (dads mostly) may face. I love that we get to know each other more and more throughout the years and it becomes a fun time.

Yet, after it’s all sad and done, most of us can’t imagine NOT doing them even if it means going through all the hassle.
HOWEVER, I truly believe they don’t have to be that way.

For me personally, family portraits are priceless and I understand that at the moment they might not seem that important, as the years go by, they become an invaluable treasure.

It is my job and my main focus as a full-service photographer to provide a stress-free experience to my clients and that includes dads too!
I make a point to check on them and see if they are comfortable and if there’s any special request.

When I tell dads that while I’m taking pictures of baby they can really relax… I truly mean it. Some dads have taken a few power naps on one of our couches, or gone out for a quick bite and fresh air while mom and baby are taken care of at the studio. Or even work an hour or so while the session is happening.

It isn’t a surprise that I usually direct my posts to moms and women in general because, well, that’s what my business is more focused on. However, I have noticed a shift in the last couple years that has made think and appreciate the fact that so many more dads are wanting to be involved in not only the portrait session itself but the whole experience: the planning, the selection of the outfits and even what the portraits we create will become. What a beautiful thing this is!
I know there isn’t a ton of dads that follow me but I felt prompted for a while to speak to those that do and I hope you know I am grateful that you are here.

As a photographer who photographs over 50 families per year, and a wife and mom who books at least one photo session per year for my own family with our favorite photographer, I know first hand what it means to plan, style, scout locations, check the weather, make sure no kid loses a teeth or bangs their head the day before the shoot, and then what will we do and how will we display all those portraits.
That’s a lot of stuff!
No wonder, in average, moms start planning their family sessions a year in advance.
That’s why I do what I do they way I do. I couldn’t possibly leave it to my clients to figure all that out. I want to feel relaxed knowing that we took care of every little detail beforehand as much as possible and everyone gets to enjoy the session.

“Always hold fast to the present. Every situation, indeed every moment, is of infinite value, for it is the representative of a whole eternity.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Dads, now I want to speak to you.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in pictures with your children even if you aren’t a fan of it.
Oh, how precious will be for your children to look through the albums and see not only themselves in the pictures but also YOU, dad!

Dads are spending more time than ever before with their children.

“For many fathers, this year will have been a chance to establish relationships that are deeper and broader than might otherwise have been the case. There will be fathers out there who are recognizing some of the joys and benefits of fatherhood in a way they’ve not been able to do in the past.”

One of the things I absolutely love about the work I do is that I get to witness the many different ways of love between a father and child, and seeing the actual men develop a role as more fragile, sensitive and complex than often is depicted in media and art history.
To watch a dad break into tears as he meets his brand new baby is priceless! ❤️
It is a true gift to be able to capture the beautiful relationships and love of a father for his family.

An important part of the portrait experience I’ve created for each client is to ensure their portraits don’t stay on phones or computers only. They should be printed and displayed so you not only look at them everyday but also touch them!

I am blown away by the sweetest feedback I am reading from the dads. It makes my heart so happy to know that they appreciate the time and effort I put into creating a stress-free and enjoyable experience.
One thing I always like to do is make sure that if dad has a special request, that it is done as well…. Funny enough, a lot of those requests are the baby-in-a-bucket shot that most dads love! Who would’ve thought!

I have to say thou, I don’t think I have seen bigger smiles than of dads while they hold their sweet babies in their arms…. specially if it’s a baby girl. Little do they know how wrapped they will be in those little fingers 😅☺️

Here are some awesome daddies with their kiddos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have so much appreciation for all the fathers out there. Fatherhood isn’t easy and it takes a lot of love and work to teach, guide, nurture a child.

I hope Father’s Day this year is an incredible one and you get the time to be with your loved ones.