Some time back, Wyeth ran a Be Photo Ready competition for families where the grand prize is a portrait shoot with Stories! Through this contest, I met 2 awesome families – CK, Martina, their sons Melvin and Mavis, and Ivan, Jennifer and their 2 cute girls Cayla and Liz-Myra. My job is a breeze whenever I get to photograph really cute babies like these…
I am sure he gets his cheeks pinched every so often.
Presenting CK & Martina’s family…
Just to add some sugary cuteness to your day, here are some photos from Alan, Alicia and Ava’s family portrait session recently. At the start of every family portrait session, I always tell parents that the outcome of the photography shoot will always depend on your baby’s mood. It’s really difficult to predict how babies will really react, but some tips that I give to families are:
1. Make sure your child has enough rest the night before / afternoon before the shoot. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’d be grumpy too.
2. If your child has never been to the park before and you want to do a shoot in the park, I really don’t know how he/she’ll react once he sees grass. Might be a good idea to visit the park as a family a few weeks before the shoot so that you can introduce the little one to grass. (and possibly bugs too!)
3. Bring some snacks in case your child gets hungry. (or if the parents get hungry!)
4. Expect to sweat. Malaysian weather can be unforgiving at times… so dress comfortably!
5. Just play with your child during the photo session. Don’t get upset if things don’t go the way you expect it to. You can never force kids to look into the camera when they don’t feel like it, or haven’t warmed up to the photographer. The more flustered you get, the more likely you won’t get the type of photos you’ve been hoping for.
Have a great mid-week!
Pitter Patter, one of our clients, is organizing a special event for women. Whether you are planning on getting pregnant, are currently pregnant or already a mother with children over 1 year in age… there are talks to cater to your needs. Registration is only RM10, and you’ll get so much value for money!
The best part is, Stories will be there! Come visit our booth on that day, and sign up for a discounted lifestyle portrait session with us. We’ll be excited to meet you to discuss any photo shoot ideas you may have.
If you’d like to register for this event, or find out more about it, please email enquiries@pitterpatter.com.my or contact Veron at 0123288368. See you there!
On my recent trip to Australia, I spent a lot of time with family members. Our days were filled with simple things like going to the park, beach, taking long walks and enjoying each other’s company. My aunt, uncle and their children have been living in Melbourne since the 80s. Alex and I were warmly welcomed into their home there. Everything was provided for – from sweaters to Anzac biscuits to dinners in Malaysian chinese restaurants, we felt like royalty!
Towards the end of our trip, I decided to shoot some portraits for the family, minus one member who could not make it. Thanks Koko, Entioh, Roland, Adeline and Jasminne for treating us so well. Alex and I wish we could stay longer. Remember, once our home is ready, you are always welcome to stay with us!
Family Portrait Tip: If you are planning to do a shoot at 8am in the morning, especially if it involves slightly grumpy young kids who are still groggy from sleep… do remember to bring some props and think of some games to play.
That’s what we did for Andrew and Shih Nei’s family portrait shoot. From a non-smiley face, the kids were smiling and having fun within 5 minutes. Whenever I shoot a family portrait, the parents usually tell me before the shoot, “I hope my children will behave”. With children, you never really know what will happen during a shoot, so I usually tell them, “Relax, don’t worry, we’ll have fun, and let’s see what happens.” Forcing a child to smile at the camera when he/she is not in the mood may not yield good results!
Andrew & Shih Nei, I hope you like these photos of your family having a good time!
