A New Perspective From the Other Side of the Camera

Last week I swapped photography sessions with a wonderful local photographer friend of mine, Catherine. She captured some shots of my family, and I did the same for her. This experience was a unique way to gain a fresh perspective on what it's like being on the other side of the lens. I can tell you with 100% certainty I now appreciate the challenges many families face when trying to capture those picture-perfect shots of their family. (NOTE: I took the images you see below after both our shoots were complete)

why was my son making this face in every photo i took of him???

The Challenge of Picking Outfits

One of the first hurdles I encountered was the wardrobe selection. As a photographer, I often advised my clients on coordinating outfits for their family sessions, but I didn't realize how challenging it could be until it was my turn. I spent hours debating colors, patterns, and styles. And then had to switch outfits at the very last minute because the weather was surprising much warmer than I had anticipated.

Sibling Dynamics and Candy Corn Bribes

My kids, like many siblings, have a unique relationship that can be both sweet and volatile. During our family photoshoot, they didn't want to put their arms around each other or even stand close. It took some coaxing, patience, and candy corn bribes to capture the sibling shots every parent hopes for!

nothing to see here… just a solo dance party in the middle of hartwood acres

The Beloved Four-Legged Family Member

The inclusion of our 11-year-old dog in our family photoshoot seemed like a wonderful idea. However, convincing her to cooperate was a challenge in itself. She kept turning her backside to the camera or attempting to zoom away out of the shot. It was an amusing but frustrating situation!

Preventing Grass Stains, Muddy Mishaps, and Snagged Tights

Another challenge I hadn't fully appreciated was keeping my family clean and grass-stain free before the photoshoot. I mean they are six and eight so I didn’t anticipate this being such a challenge. It felt like every time I turned around my daughter was climbing on something and my son was rolling around on the ground with my dog. So, I found myself playing an impossible game of trying to keep their clothes and faces free of stains and dirt before photo time.

Embracing Unpredictable Moments

One memorable moment from our family photoshoot was my son's unexpected tree-climbing adventure. He decided to scale a nearby tree and refused to come down. I was left with a choice: either capture the unique moment of him in the tree or coax him down. In the end, I went with the former, as it was a genuine representation of his adventurous spirit.

The tree my son climbed and didn’t want to get down from

A New Perspective

Going through this experience, I have gained a deeper understanding of what my clients, especially moms, go through during family photoshoots. The mental and emotional toll of coordinating outfits, getting kids to corporate, and dealing with unpredictable circumstances (whether its pets, weather, or grass-stained knees) can be very overwhelming. As a family photographer, I can now relate to these challenges they face on a personal level.

I will say I drove away from my own family photo shoot feeling a bit defeated and stressed. But now I can reflect on the day and feel grateful for having this experience. It taught me firsthand that it's not just about capturing perfect smiles and poses but rather navigating the chaos and capturing the essence of what makes each family unique! I've learned that the most authentic family photos often come from embracing the imperfections, the sibling rivalry, the quirks of our furry friends, or even grass stained knees!

Thank you again, Catherine for your patience and postive attitude! I look forward to seeing the finished gallery! Check out her work below!

Acevedo Weddings: www.acevedoweddings.com

Instagram: @acevedoweddings