The England family were in need of updated photos because their family has grown so much in the last few years! Dalane wanted somewhere outdoors to showcase the fall trees in the salt lake valley. We decided that the best location for their family would be Memorial Park in Salt Lake City!
The Utah Valley seems to change quickly; all of the beautiful colors fall off a lot sooner than you'd expect! So we planned for a week out, and the leaves were absolutely gorgeous this year! Dalane and Mark have eight children (two of which married into the family) and six grandchildren!
All of their grandchildren were so amazing and behaved so well. When I told them that there would be a treat at the end of the session they all seemed even more excited about the session! Kids want to know they are just as important as everyone else in the group. I am always willing to reward for good behavior! One thing that I always bring to my extended family sessions? BRIBERY! Kids love bribery (and from my experience tend to want to behave for longer periods of time)! Most kids begin to act out when they feel they are not getting the attention they need, especially in a big group setting. By bringing a small bribe, I feel like it lets all the kids know that I am on their side! I want them to love the experience just as much as the parents do!
Kids also tend to have a hard time understanding the significance of photos. We as adults see that these photos are memories that are forever captured! I mean honestly, It's super draining for ANYONE to stand in front of a professional photographer, be posed, to look at the camera etc etc! I know for a fact that when I was a kid, my patience for things like that was LITTLE to none... By ensuring that they know I am on their side and want to reward them? That seems to make ALL the difference!
Several times I had Randy, one of the grand kids, come up to me and hold my hand and say "are we almost finished? Or do I need to wait a little bit longer for my candy?" THAT is why I love what I do. He was SO kind and totally understood that for some reason? These photos were important, but even more so? He was willing to STILL be patient!
I dedicate myself to ensuring that all my clients feel comfortable, appreciated and enjoy themselves! But I go a little bit further for the kiddos by getting them to say silly things that make them laugh, and reward their behavior at the end!
The England Family were an absolute pleasure to work with! They were so sweet, understanding and they were the best even as a group!!! They made my job super easy, and I am so lucky that I was able to work with them this fall!
