kristyna
gorgun
what to expect?
how things usually go...
are we the right fit ?
So, you book a session with me & here we are, about to take your family's photos.
You may be nervous, or at least not sure what to anticipate.
As a mom, you could be a bit stressed about kids behaving, everybody's syncing outfits, and hoping to get at least "one good one".
As a dad, "where do I look?"
The session is not about me directing your every move
& expecting picture perfect family
Okay, so if it helps - you can just throw the worries out of the window. The family photo session should be something to look forward to and be really excited about. Think of it as time strictly devoted to spending with your family, without the distractions of your regular day.
No phones, no tasks waiting for you to be done. You can be fully present and in the moment with your children.
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If we are doing an outdoor session, we walk, we explore, we chat and once we stumble upon a nice spot where we pause, I'll guide you a bit, a few prompts here and there. Or, when someone does something that catches my attention, a moment that I find meaningful, loving, or silly, I start snapping photos even in the middle of the sentence. We don't need to necessarily stop or pause. If you get caught by surprise by me taking pictures while you are not ready, please don't freeze, keep on doing your thing - I still pay attention and I loved the moment, so I wanted to capture it.
If we are at your home, I'll be a fly on the wall, suggesting only things we could do; observing, and documenting. A gallery of love, chaos and happiness is the goal here. I feel like home is a sacred space for you, children's safe haven and I'm very careful about disturbing the environment, I really want to document you in it in the most authentic way.
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Yes, it's quite possible chaos will occur at least a few times or kids may get shy. On my side, we are all good. It's all part of being a kid. No need to be upset with them (or try the good old bribery) because of certain expectations of how the kids should behave to get good photos.
My advice would be : be affectionate + go with the flow. Kids want to run? Run with them, play tag, hide and seek. They don't want to take pictures? I can be as awkwardly funny as much as I can, but in the end, it's usually you who can turn things around. Sit down with them and talk about their day, let's take their mind off being ready for pictures by exploring - look for the pebbles to throw into the ocean, smell the flowers, make a leaf bouquet, or go for a walk. I guarantee success 100%.
I don't want you to have the same family photos as everyone else​​.
I want those to be YOU. Your family. Your HOME.
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Yes, I'm talking about posing. I hear you say "We are so awkward in front of camera​​". Well, we all are, except for maybe Gisele Bundchen and similar, but me directing your every move and trying to make you stand in some cookie cutter pose - most likely unnatural to you - won't get us there.
The secret is in you letting go of the fact that we are taking pictures now.​ That focus should go to your people who are there with you. The more you do that, the more authentic the images will look because you'll be yourself and you’ll love them more.​
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So what you'll hear from me is more along the lines like, snuggle up, be as close as you can, get cozy on the blanket, lay down together like you would if you are here alone, hug each other. No specifics. You'll do all those like you do every time when I'm not there.
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As is goes for the"good ones", we will take classic family portraits at some point during our session. But they may or may not be too classic - kids burst out laughing because they get tickled, one of them is on dad's shoulders messing up his hair and being upside down, the other one is jumping on one leg and/or there are some nose kisses happening with mom and the baby.
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Bottom line, if you feel like you may want something else from the family session, more posed photographs or just a different approach, we might not be the best fit and that's perfectly fine. There are plenty of photographers out there and it's super important you book the right one for your family.​
Details you want to remember forever at the moment but forget later.
I document them for you.​
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Every stage of your life with kids deserves documenting.
There are things that belong to each of them that fill your heart as the years pass, you forget. The way your teenage daughter curl a strand of her hair when she thinks, your kids' silly dance​, your baby's newborn schrunch, your daughter jumping on her bum before getting off the bed, the loving family hugs, the stuffie they carry around all.the.time, the way you baby holds their feet, the way you still feel butterflies when you look into each other's eyes, the games you play when they are little and also not so little. ​
​These are the days, as they say. It can get messy, wild, and frustrating sometimes, but I believe these are the happiest and fullest days of your life. They will pass faster than we'd like, and nothing much can be done about it. Except for documenting it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Let me be there for the important milestones or your Sundays.​
PS: I don't have an outfit guide because I don't really care much what you wear as long as you are comfortable and wearing what feels like YOU. Just save the heels for drinks with your girlfriends and logo tshirts for tennis matches, boys :)
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PS2: if you finished reading this, thank you! And I think we are now more than ready for the next step: get to know each other.