I have been shooting family photography for the past 5 years. Initially I didn’t want to do family photos because it felt frustrating to chase kids around who had no interest in cooperating with the given situation. But I soon fell in love with it. I loved capturing the kids as they were, their true personalities. I had to think on my feet and get creative. But I ran into tension, because parents wanted the happy, smiling child looking directly at the camera. Which I TOTALLY GET! I wanted the same thing (and still do sometimes). It took major bribery to get my kids to smile at a camera. But what I have learned in the last five years is, you can get those smiling photos of your kids, but first they need the room to play, to be silly, and to connect with you (and me as well). And in the midst of all of that it won’t feel like pulling teeth to get them to smile at a camera for a few seconds.

I have also found that location plays a big role for kids. And one of the best places to get photos taken is in your own backyard. I will talk more about my WHY down below. So, this summer I am offering mini and full family sessions in YOUR backyard. $100 for a 30 minute session and $200 for an hour. And if you book a June session the first handful of your digital files are HALF PRICE, along with a reduced package price.

You may still be questioning whether or not family photos are best in your backyard, but here are my 5 BIG REASONS why I am encouraging you to take family photos in your backyard.

1.) Your home (and backyard) is where you and your kids are most comfortable. Yes, I know that may not always be a good thing. But I promise it is. So many parents want their kids to smile naturally but that’s hard to do with a stranger is putting a camera in front of their face. It’s even hard uncomfortable for the parents. But when it’s your territory, your kids territory, they are more relaxed, they are more at ease in their own backyard. I’ve seen it with many kids. And that is where I can capture the most natural, most authentic part of your child.

2.) The backyard is where so many of your children’s memories are made. I get it I am in love with dreamy photos in a golden backlit field. But when your kids look at your family photos in a backyard they remember all the in betweens that happened there, all the summers they spent there. These photos will hold more significance to them as an adult. It will take them right back to the days of their childhood, because they walked across that lawn with their bare feet so many times. And I promise I can find you some dreamy golden light in your own backyard.

3.) Your backyard is a unique backdrop. I remember taking family photos as a kid at our church every few years. Families signed up and got in the assembly line to take family pictures in front of the same gray backdrop. There is so much life and individuality to the backdrop of your backyard. It helps tell your family’s story so much more than the same backdrops being used over and over again.

4.) Your kids are calmer because they won’t be begging to play on the playground or explore the beach. This one speaks for itself. It’s torturous to a kid to go to the park and see that playground they want to climb on. This takes away all of those arguments.

5.) Your backyard doesn’t have an audience. So this one works for the kids, but I think even more so for the mom’s and dad’s. If you are in your backyard there aren’t any strangers walking by staring at you, making your feel uncomfortable. You are in your own space, and the only person who might give you a glance is your nosy neighbor, and that’s only if you live next to a Gladys Kravitz. And you are just bringing something interesting to her day. 😉

I’m sure I could go on and on about this, I can’t say enough about how much more enjoyable family photos have been for myself, parents and their kids have been when done in their backyard. If this idea excites you, book your session here. I can’t want to chat more!

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