When expectations are set beforehand, it can make things run smoother. If you are wanting natural family photos, what should your expectations be? HAVE FUN! If you want fun, joyful images without the stiffness, have fun and just be present!

Choosing the right photographer

If you are looking for natural photos, choose the right photographer that matches the style you are looking for. Check their portfolio and make sure that’s the style you are looking for. If I’m wanting fun, natural photos, I won’t be going to someone who has photos of everyone smiling at the camera for every single portrait. They might be an awesome photographer, but it’s not the style that I’m going for. So, before you secure a photographer make sure your expectations and their expectations are on the same page. This is something I always communicate with my clients. Anytime I receive an inquiry, I always tell them how my sessions run and if that’s what they are looking for.

Stop the nagging, parents!

Seriously! No, your child does not need to look at me and smile the whole time. I promise you! The more you are present with your family and engaged with them, the more natural your photos will get. The more you PLAY with your children, the more natural the photos will be. Once you start telling your child, look at the camera, or smile at the photographer, it takes out the FUN in the photos and makes it into a chore. You don’t want this to be a chore; you want your children relaxed and playful. We don’t want anyone upset during family photos, it’s not fun.

Don’t be perfect

This may sound awful, but I’m really not trying to be. Don’t be caught up in being perfect. Perfectly behaved children. a perfectly behaved husband (cough cough). Sometimes the most real moments come from those imperfect moments. A meltdown can lead to a mom who is embracing their child calming them down, those moments of nurturing are my golden tickets. I’m not looking to have a child with a meltdown but as a mom, I understand they come out of nowhere and in the most inconvenient ways. So, I get it. I get that we want things to be perfect and we want our whole family to cooperate, but when we start fixating on that, we lose some of that beautiful connection that can happen naturally.

Just play!

Getting those natural family photos that we want come with a great advantage. It brings a more playful approach to where kids and husbands can enjoy. As a family photographer, I ensure that we have moments of playing that lead to those beautiful natural photos. I am not the type of photographer who will pose you the whole session and require you to smile at me. We will have fun and we will bring those giggles out through playful activities. Are we going to get winded at the number of times I make you run? Maybe. But I’m sure we will also have moments where we explore our surrounding and just take in the moment.

In the end..

If you are looking for natural family photos, just make sure to select a photographer that matches that style you are looking for. Don’t aim for perfection but rather be present with your family and have FUN. These sessions are a whole different ballgame when we are not concerned about our appearance or on how our kids are behaving. If you are looking for a photographer and I live in your area, I would love to help you out! I do lifestyle family sessions and documentary family sessions for families looking for something deeper.

If you are looking for more articles to read, check out these:
–What is documentary family photography? A guide to photographing real family moments

The post How to Get Natural Family Photos Without Stiff Poses appeared first on Rina Coker | Memphis Family Photographer.

So, you are probably wondering this big question as to what makes a session documentary? Within the photography world, us photographers, love to throw out words such as documentary, lifestyle, natural light, etc. It becomes a bit hard to understand what that means and is it something we want? When you think of the word documentary, what comes to your mind? Possibly a Netflix Documentary? When we search for the true definition of the word, we come up with something that “presents factual information and real-life events.” So, what is a documentary family session? A session that depicts real-life events.

What makes a family session documentary?

As a documentary family photographer myself, I love answering this question. I love photographing these types of sessions because each session can be so different from the next. The thing about documentary family session is that they contain minimal control. The less control, the better. With documentary session we are trying to depict real-life events and once we start directing the scene, we start to devalue the real sense of “documentary.”

How did I get into documentary sessions?

I got into photography because I always had an itch for the camera and taking photos. It didn’t fully start until I became a mom and started taking photos of my daughter with my crop sensor canon rebel camera. From that point I knew that studio and portraits wasn’t going to be my “thing”. Can I photograph it? Yes, of course. But, with anything art related, I knew that studio work didn’t light my heart up. I knew from the get-go that lifestyle work would be my actual niche. You still get true emotions but with a more relaxes approach than constantly posing everyone into perfection. Years went by and I started following photographers that were the epitome of documentary photography. This sort of craving led to some documentary photography education through CreativeLive with Kirsten Lewis. Which is a phenomenal course BTW! Through this course I learned the fundamental aspects of documentary photography and just started practicing with my own children.

How do you photograph documentary sessions?

If you are considering getting into this specific niche of photography, I highly suggest you take the course through CreativeLive. Practice and practice within your home. Set-up a model call and specify what type of session they are getting. This isn’t a smile for the camera type of session. You will be documenting their life as it is, no fluff, no posing, no instructions. You will be a fly in the wall, going through life with them as their day evolves. Within this niche, some photographers do a full 8-hours, some do a long-term project that involves multiple sessions throughout the year, some do 4 or 2 hours. I prefer to do 4 hours to allow ample time to document different scenes and not be rushed per se. Once you establish this and you have reserved a documentary session, prep the client on what the expectations are.

What are the expectations to documentary sessions?

When it comes to prepping your clients on the expectations, it’s important for them to realize that this might not be their typical photo session. There won’t be posing, or you directing them to smile at the camera. This type of session has no specific direction. You are a fly in the wall capturing photos as their day progresses. They should proceed this session as if you were not there. You are like the invisible photographer just walking around and documenting what you see fit. You are creating a story based off their day in their life. Sounds simple? It’s because it should be. As the photographer it’s your job to capture their story as artistically as possible.

How can you set the expectations on kids?

Once you are photographing your session, you’ll either get a shy child who want’s nothing to do with you or, a child who wants everyone to look at them. It can be challenging considering your session is documentary focused. Just don’t pay them attention. Once the child realizes that what they are doing isn’t capturing your attention, they will hopefully stop trying to capture your attention. Sometimes even a “pretend I’m not here” can work on children. The more attention you give a situation, the more they are inclined to perform that action.

What camera gear to use?

As artist we all know that camera gear is all based on our preferences. So is there a go-to gear for this specific style of photography. The short answer is, no! Use what you like and what you are used to using. Make sure you have plenty of battery, extra packs if needed, make sure you have multiple SD cards since your session will be longer than usual. This is true especially if you are a family photographer who normally does 1-hour sessions. Due to most of these sessions being indoors, I like to use a 35mm lens. I am able to approach various angle without having the need for additional space. I do often use a 50mm if space isn’t a concern and I can move freely. Some like using a 24mm for optimal space but it can distort the image depending on how close you are to the subject. I don’t bring external lights; I use the light available throughout the house and crank up ISO when needed. Editing style is another thing that is completely up to your discretion. You are the artist and storyteller so no one should tell you otherwise. BUT, on that note… don’t over edit to the point where it doesn’t seem real. Don’t go photoshop crazy and start removing fly aways or whitening teeth. Documentary sessions are not meant to be “perfect”, you want these sessions to be real and close to their true reality. Once you start removing distracting items from the photo or altering the image, it loses its authenticity for what your actual goal is. If your actual goal is to document their life as is, then leave their images as is.

Still have questions?

If you are a photographer wanting to learn more about this, please feel free to reach out! I love talking about documentary sessions and my love for them. If you are a family wanting to reserve a documentary family session, I would love to help you out! If you don’t like the idea of a documentary session but would like a regular lifestyle photography session, I also do those!

If you are looking for more articles to read, check out these:
– How to get natural family photos without stiff poses

The post What Is Documentary Family Photography? A Guide to Photographing Real Family Moments appeared first on Rina Coker | Memphis Family Photographer.

Clothing..chargers..etc.,

During this time as you prepare yourself. Think comfort. You want comfortable clothes to move around in, especially if you know you are having a caesarean birth. Think loungewear that is loose, easy to remove, easy to put on, and easy to open. If you are planning on breastfeeding think about shirts that will be either easy to remove or open. During my time, I loved breastfeeding camisoles. They were easy to put on, comfy, and I can easily open them up when it came time to breast feed. You will be spending a good amount of time in the hospital, so think about your entertainment needs. Tablets, books, phone, and your chargers. Get chargers that are long, just in the event that the plug is far from your bed. Think about your usual stuff that you would pack for a vacation just make it more comfortable. Shower shoes for the shower, comfy sandals or slippers to walk around in. Comfy shoes for when you get to leave the hospital. Some other important things to outline are your wallet, ID, insurance card, and birth plan. If you are thinking about pumping and not sure how to use it, bring your pump with you. A lactation consultant normally walks around the hospital providing assistance. They can certainly help you in getting to know your pump.

Comfort, as you see fit..

You know yourself best, so analyze your comfort level and go from there. Yes, the hospital will provide, towels, pillows, and basic toiletry items. If you feel like what they’ll provide will be fine, then don’t bring in additional items. If you want to feel a little bit more at home, bring your favorite pillow, towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. This is all up to your discretion and how you want to feel after giving birth. Once I was able to walk, hours after birth, I just wanted to take a hot shower. Being able to take a shower with your own stuff after all that work, made things feel a lot better. You can always call your hospital and ask them what items they provide.

Baby items

The hospital will provide diapers, wipes, pacifier, and knitted hats. Which in case you don’t know yet… you can take these items home at the end of your stay! You’ll need baby’s car seat, which your spouse can get from the car once it’s time to leave. All those cute items you spent money buying for them, you can bring with you to take photos. Name plates, personalized swaddles, hats, and even a personalized coming home outfit. I loved finding personalized coming home outfits off Etsy.

You got this mama!

I know it all seems so scary to think about but, you’ll get through this! You’ll be hugging your sweet baby in no time, and all of this worriedness will seem like nothing. I hope you find this blog post, informative, and please feel free to download and use the checklist I’ve left for you!

If you are a mom and still looking for a maternity and/or newborn photographer- I’d love to help you document this beautiful moment, especially if we are in the same area. If you are a current client of mine that has a newborn session reserved, then don’t forget to let me know once you have delivered so we can set your newborn session date!

If you are looking for more articles to read, check out these:
– My favorite online baby boutiques as a newborn photographer
– What is a documentary family photography? A guide to photographing real family moments

The post What to pack in your hospital bag appeared first on Rina Coker | Memphis Family Photographer.

Lou Lou and Company

When it comes to knotted gowns, these are my absolute favorite! Knotted gowns are onsies that have extra fabric in the bottom to where you can tie them in a knot. I adored them when it came to midnight diaper changes. Just undo the knot, change diaper, tie the knot, and hopefully some more sleep. Their fabric is also extremely soft. Everything from Lou Lou is absolutely beautiful and worth spending your money on. You won’t be disappointed!

Zara

If you love a neutral palette than you are going to absolutely love the baby clothes that Zara has. From cable knit outfits, cardigans, and hats. When it comes to clothes that have texture and cuteness then Zara is your go-to. It’s one of my biggest go-to when it comes to styling clients for their newborn sessions.

Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is one of my favorite stores when it comes to affordable organic clothes. One of my favorite collections is when they come out with their bamboo lines. One neat thing about Kate Quinn is that they launch collections with a certain theme. These collections for the most part are limited editions, so if you see something you like, buy it! If you love clothes with cute patterns then Kate Quinn is your go-to! They also have a limited selection on women clothing that is extremely comfortable and soft.

I hope you found this article helpful! I understand the excitement that comes from expecting a baby and wanting to buy all the things! These are stores that I absolutely love and recommend my clients to dress their kids in when it comes to their portrait session! Which by the way, if you are looking for a newborn photographer, please reach out and see if I’m within your area! I adore meeting new families and getting a chance to document their story authentically! Click here for my newborn website, here for my family website! Looking forward to talking with you soon!

If you are looking for more articles to read, check out these:
– What to pack in your hospital bag
– What is documentary family photography? A guide to photographing real family moments

The post My Favorite Online Baby Boutiques as a Newborn Photographer appeared first on Rina Coker | Memphis Family Photographer.

CRM

CRM a.k.a. client relationship management

There are so many CRM softwares to choose from, my personal favorite- Dubsado. A CRM allows you to:

• keep track of all client communication
• contract and forms
• track your leads
• prepare/send invoice
• collect payments
• create proposals
• track financial goals
• schedule Sessions/Consultations
• track year to date financial information

It is filled with so many tools beneficial for an entrepreneur. I personally like to use it to keep track of all my client communication. I have set up my lead forms and financial goals. I am able to create invoice and have all them in one spot. You can create questionnaires so you can to know your clients better. It’s full of a lot of potential! There are other CRM’s similar to Dubsado such as honeybook, 17hats, Sprout Studio.

QuickBooks

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

QuickBooks helps you keep all your financial stuff in check. Think of accounting and taxes when you see QuickBooks. You connect it to your bank and it keeps track of all your transactions. Within there you can attach receipts for all your transactions, categorize each transaction, and track mileage to and from session. It also gives you an estimated outlook to how much you might owe for taxes. This is a very tedious aspect of owning your own business and quite frankly it’s a task I’d rather not mess around with. You can always go the route of having a personal bookkeeper or accountant to handle all of this, but QuickBooks has been extremely helpful and an investment that has been highly worth it!

Showit

Website designing made easy

Showit allows you to design the website of your dreams! I will admit that it takes a bit to get used to. But, once you become familiar with all the aspects, it’s a piece of cake! I highly recommend you either start with a free template or buy a template from the wonderful designers that Showit has. Starting off fresh can be extremely time consuming. Showit allows you to have total control of your website and your creativity can really shine through! It gives you the flexibility to change layouts, add fonts, create brand colors, and provide a great user experience. It also displays both the desktop and mobile version of your website so it allows you to scroll through and experience your website firsthand.

The Motherhood Anthology

Education!!!

Although this isn’t a tool and more like an education platform. There is nothing better than being part of a group with likeminded motherhood photographers whose main goal is giving you the tools to become a sustainable and profitable photographer! The Motherhood Anthology Membership is by far one of the best investment I have done for my business when it comes to education. There are so many educators out there to choose from in the photography world. My tip for selecting one is choosing someone you admire and look up to, choosing an educator that’s in a position where you see yourself being in, years from now. Put yourself in a group with likeminded entrepreneurs and watch yourself grow!

I certainly hope that my favorite tools as a family photographer blog post was helpful for you! My goal is to create blog pieces here and there that can help any photographer grow into their business. As well as get answers to questions I had years ago when I decided to make my own business! If you’d like to connect please reach out to me through my contact form, looking forward to talking with you!

All my best!

xx

Rina

The post My Favorite Business Tools As a Family Photographer appeared first on Rina Coker | Memphis Family Photographer.