How To Run A Stress-Free Family Photo Session

After shooting photos for close to thirteen years, I have pretty much seen it all. Crying babies, that have literally cried the entire session, family squabbles, kids that refuse to do anything but play, parents that just look flat out exhausted. Yet, we always find a way to create some magic and I believe that comes from a peaceful heart within.

It comes from years of practice and completely throwing out the playbook of what you think should happen. It comes from finding the families beautiful moments through the little things that people often don’t see. For example, how a Mom and Dad love on one another, how the kids run and play together, how a son looks at his Dad. There are so many things in a shoot that are so much more than just the poses that we think are necessary. It’s the in between moments that makes a family shoot perfection. These are often my favorite moments to capture.

There was a shoot I did a while ago that started off a little bumpy. I remember the minute the family arrived the Mom and Dad were in a tiff, the Dad was frustrated that the kids wouldn’t listen, and the kids wanted nothing to do with the camera. So, what I did was have the family snuggle together to start, then I had the kids play tag and had the Momma hold her new baby. Instead of forcing the moments, I let them breathe and it created some of the most beautiful images I have ever created. The shoot was completely filled with the in between moments and it was perfect.

Although I seem like I fly by the seat of my pants, that is soooo not the case. I often go through a mental checklist in my head and what I have been daydreaming about capturing. I try to get to know my couples and families before hand and that helps so much in capturing their family and the season of life they are in. I really try to prep my families and make them feel as comfortable as they can because that is when the true magic happens. Recently, I have realized that I really want to share my knowledge with others.

If you want my full workflow, including checklists and email templates you can find that below :)

To end, if you found this helpful and are fully ready to invest in your business and your passion; and if you want my entire stress-free family session workflow- from prep to storytelling- it’s all inside my complete system. I cannot wait to share it with you.

Warmly,

Alex

The Perry’s | A Ralph Lauren Inspired Shoot

It is truly the best watching families grow. I’ve watched this couple date, get engaged, get married and now have three beautiful kiddos. When I say beautiful, they “Truly” are beautiful. (one of their daughters is named Truly, so it fits, ha!) This little family is kind, loving and so cool. Megan works in fashion and Taylor is a musician and them coming together and creating such an adventurous life fits so well, and has been the most beautiful thing to be able to photograph for the last two years.

When we chose a spot to photograph it turned out there was a party being thrown there so it was back to the drawing board. While talking to this lovely girl that was organizing the party, she told me that there was a park just about a mile down the road and that I should try to see if it would work. When I got to the park I looked across the street and there was a wide open field with a hay bale.

Jackpot.

When we adventured through the tunnel from the parking lot, I knew this was going to be a magical shoot; and it 100% ended up being so. Enjoy :)

Warmly,

Alex

Jeremiah | An Adoption Story

So you know those really heartwarming moments that make you want to cry and have so much hope at the same time? Well, this is one of those stories. I have known Meg and Colton since I shot there wedding almost ten years ago and even then I knew their story was going to be a beautiful one. Every time I would see them I would hear about a new adventure they would be going on or a new career path that they were passionate about or even a little one they wanted to adopt :) I remember when Meg was working for a foster agency and her passion for those kids. I remember the heartbreaking and beautiful stories she would tell me and I could even see then that it was going to be a huge part of her life. For one of their first anniversary shoots with me, I remember them telling me that they were planning on fostering and then enter Jeremiah. He changed everything for them. They fell in love with him and I was blessed enough to be there to witness it from the beginning. He was such a little bug when I first met him and now I got the honor, three years later, of photographing him officially joining the Walker family. I can say when I arrived that day I did not expect to see what I saw. From the very end of the hallway all the way to the courtroom there were people just waiting to embrace this new journey Meg and Colton were about the go on. There were so many people that some had to stand in the back while the adoption was happening. It was such a beautiful sight. So of course I was a hot mess and could not stop crying and neither could so many others. This has been such an amazing story to watch play out and I am truly so honored I got to be a little part of it.

Warmly,

Alex

Paige + John | Vintage Style St. Louis Elopement

Two people that are so beautifully in love is one of the most contagious feelings in the world. The minute I arrived to this elopement, I was enveloped in the golden bubble Paige and John created just by being there. It was a beautiful Fall day and the trees were slowly changing color and the breeze was warm enough to make the day feel alive and like anything was possible. Paige couldn’t stop laughing and smiling at John, and John could not keep his eyes off Paige. It was hands down one of the sweetest things to be a part of. And don’t even get me started on the mini shoot at one of my favorite diners in St. Louis. It was so fun shooting here because when Michael was a drummer in his band we would go there after shows and it was the best re-visiting those memories. I so hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do and the love that you can feel through them :)

Warmly,

Alex

Chanel + Brion | Cozy Kansas City Newborn Session

It was a warm, rainy summer day and I was invited in and greeted by a sweet little family that I have been photographing for several years. They opened their door and their daughter is running around playing, there is chipotle on the island and a sweet little newborn is in Chanel’s arms. Everyone is dressed so cozy and like themselves that it is hard to not relax. We were ready to shoot. Untraditional newborn sessions are where I feel like my soul comes alive. No one is trying hard, everyone feels at home, and the photos turn out so beautiful that you almost can relive the moments. So, I thought it was appropriate that my first blog post would be of this family that means so much to me. Enjoy :)

Warmly,

Alex