Tim always tells our clients, “What you do before a portrait session directly affects it's success."

When photographing families, especially those with children, learning about their personalities is invaluable. 

Who is shy? 

Who is outgoing? 

What are their interests? 

The more you know before the session, the more relaxed everyone will be in front of the camera.

Here’s a great example from a recent session with the five-year-old boy pictured above. 

During our consultation, we discovered he was full of personality, so we made a list of everything he loved:

• Teddy the Train (the black steam engine that travels the world)
• Race cars
• Cats—especially the neighbor’s cat
• RhondaDash, their horse
• Peggy the Pig (yes, a real pig!)
• Blaze and the Monster Machines
• Spelling and math
• Painting
• Playing in the sand

Imagine walking into the session already knowing all of that! Instead of asking, “So…what do you like?” we were able to connect with him immediately. We talked about Teddy the Train, asked about Peggy the Pig, and joked about race cars. 

Remember what we say about both children and adults...you must engage the mind for great expressions.

We made it a priority years ago to use this special time with a client to get to know the people you’ll be photographing and found it is the foundation of building meaningful relationships with our clients.

PLUS these insights will guide your conversations, your posing, and ultimately your portraits.

The best portraits aren’t created by chance—they’re created through preparation. 

Invest the time before the session, and you’ll create a better experience, stronger relationships, and meaningful portraits your clients will treasure for generations.