How to feel comfortable during your in-home family film + photography session | with Nashville Family Photographer Jennie Pyfferoen
Are you hesitant to book your family’s film and photography session because it sounds uncomfortable and vulnerable? Are you waiting for the “right time”?
I know that little voice… The one that says:
“I need to lose 10 pounds.”
“My house isn’t good enough.”
“My family is pure chaos.”
“Maybe next year…”
Here are my 5 tips to enjoy your family session. Shocker... it's going to be WAY easier than you expect.
#1 The best sessions feel like you're doing
nothing special.
They feel like you're a boring family with nothing special to film. But that couldn't be further from the truth. The BEST family films are with families who just hang out together for a few hours. Many people can overthink it. Or they compare themselves to another one of my films and say something like "we don't bake together" ... I'm here to tell you, if your family doesn't bake, I sure hope you don't for the session! Because that's NOT your family's story! I want to know what YOU do as a family. Maybe all you do is hang out on the floor. There is magic in EVERY moment. and I'm your girl to capture it!
#2 If you feel awkward, you can always move with your family!
Maybe for you, it's dance parties. For some, it's wrestling on the ground! Whatever it is, do that! It takes your mind off of the camera and gives you something you usually do together that is fun and easy to capture candid moments.
#3 Don't over think.
I know it can be hard for some, but really let go of any vision or ideas that lead to over thinking. Just be together, it's TRULY that simple.
#4 If there is an imperfect moment...
as there are in most sessions!... Just expect that. I will either put my camera down and let everyone rebalance. Or if the moment is right, I might capture it. Because real life involves ALL emotions. I have a degree in early childhood education and one in developmental psychology. Im VERY aware of kids' emotions and have zero judgment. I come to you with an open heart and a camera.
#5 Your kids do not care
Your kids do not care about your weight or if the house gets a million reshares on pinterest. Do this for them and not for social media. In 15 years, they will treasure this immensely. Just yesterday, I had a moment alone in the car to sit with my emotions. My mother will be in heaven now for nearly 17 years and I was thinking about how I would give anything to have video + audio of her laugh, her voice. If I could just feel her boney hug. I miss her like crazy. That's what your kids will feel in 30 years. Give them that. Contact me and let's talk about what memories you cherish in this season!
Franklin, Tennessee Family Photographer | A Summer Evening With The Cooney's
The Cooney's attend my CrossFit gym and reached out to me because they had taken a job offer in Florida and were selling their home and moving. While, the job offer was amazing, they were sad about leaving their life in Franklin, Tennessee. I have had several clients reach out to me to capture their last days at a home before a big move... it's neat to capture that for them, from the perspective of closing a chapter before a new one begins. What I am creating is a timestamp. A specific place in time before change. I think often about the social psychology effects of social media and how that has effected what we photograph. Social media has shifted our entire view of photography. For both clients and photographers. Photographers can fall into the line of thinking that a photo has to be absolutely perfect to have value, when in reality... meaningful matters far more than perfection. I will never hold back a less than perfect photo that has deep meaning for a client.
What I think of when I think of time stamps are ... houses we used to live in or an old couch we had. I photograph that couch if its in the frame my client's are in and I think ahead 20 years, on them looking at their photos and saying "Remember that couch?!" Or in this case... their littles probably won't remember their house at all. But these photos will give them some form of memory.
I think about timestamps and how we currently capture maternity clients. We get them dressed up and place nearly all of them in some sort of outdoor scenery. This is beautiful, and has value.... But there is no story there. When I think of my mom being pregnant with me I think of her telling me the story of her standing on her porch in the 80s smoking a cigarette, barefoot. It was super hot and that day a big breeze blew through. She enjoyed this breeze but later found it out was a tornado on the other side of town. ? Oh, the 80s!!! But How I wish I had a photo of that! A timestamp of then. of her in her REAL self. What good would a photo of her dressed up in a field be to me? There is no timestamp there, except for the timestamp of "back when we dressed up for maternity sessions and stood in fields" ?
I never want to knock anyone's personal choices or the photographer's work, and I only mean to happily discuss the social psychology of photography.
I love photographing this family. I wanted to tell the story of how they had fun on their land and how connected they were. and I really wanted to show the kiddos that their parents LOVED playing with them. It is so important to capture the parents for the kids not just the kids for the parents.
Enjoy The Cooney's photos!
Franklin, TN Family Photographer | Richardson Family Family Film
I was so honored to spend a morning capturing The Richardson family on one of the first beautiful spring days in Franklin, TN. I could have (and told them) spent the entire day doing a day in the life with them. It was THAT much fun. And Their son Ryder, is absolutely hilarious. The hardest part of my day was trying to not laugh, so I could keep my video skills on point.
I often times hear parents say their family is far too much of a hot mess to have a film. Their kids are too crazy, their house is too messy.
This film is my favorite so far in 2022. It is filled with what it feels like to live their life. Its messy, joyful, and feels like a dream.
Let me tell you that these families make the BEST films. Not because the film comes out a hot mess etc. but when the kids are allowed to be themselves and the house is not stressed about and the primary focus becomes connection and living fully, the film and the photo just radiate love and joy. There is so much beauty in that chaos - that you dont have the time to see.
What makes my clients unique is that they seem to get that time is passing by too quickly, that if they are not intentional in their living, they will miss it and if they are not intuitional in capturing their real life memories, they wont have them later to reflect on. My clients are parents who slow down and live more intentionally.
When I work with clients, I want to know them as well I can - so I send them a questionnaire. The Richardson family had the most amazing answer for the question “What made you book a film with me?” And I wanted to share it:
“We can’t handle missing a single moment of the treasure that our kids are to us. We know time goes by and it’s beautiful and a gut punch all at once. We also know we won’t live in this house forever, but we have had some beautiful moments here and want video to document the season that it’s been for our family. Selah was born in this house, Ryder navigated a cross country move with us in this house. we’ve only been here not even two years but it’s been significant For our family.”
I knew after reading this, their film + photography session would be amazing. Their film will come weeks from now…. But for now… these photos tell an amazing story.
You should read my friend, Beth's blog about A birth she captured in Athens, Ohio.
Franklin TN Family Photographer | The Speakman Family Film Day In The Life
Lola first emailed me at the end of 2021, to book a family film + Photos session for 2022. She voiced her emotions over time flying by too quickly and needing to capture their life as it is, because it wouldn't be what it is - very soon.
We met on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautiful and I arrived to find this beautiful family, new in their journey together, loving on one another so well. I was so inspired by their connection and their effort to be intentional with their lives and time together.
Speakman Family Film
Spending a few hours with Lola and Justin (and baby Rhett) was such a joy. Rhett's laughter and his parent's willingness to do anything to hear it, was so inspiring and made me feel so happy. This is what I get out of filming families; being able to observe other families, stepping into their world and out of my own for a few hours, grounds me and fills my soul. It keeps my own family intentional and grateful.
My favorite parts of our time together was witnessing their willingness to do anything for Rhett - just being so devoted to loving him and making him happy. We also, were able to walk over to the grandparent's house, because they live so close (so jealous!) and see how they love Rhett deeply. I loved capturing all of it. So much laughter and kissing, thats what I hope they remember.
Franklin Family Photographer | The Lush Family Day in the life
Lush Family Film:
Your professional photo and or film sessions shouldn’t be based off of what your peers are doing or what social media tells you is cute.
It should be rooted in your own family’s story. Your own memories. I’m hearing that this new social media generation is getting to the season of life where their children are teens etc and wish they had more photos capturing their everyday.
They didn’t realize social media was influencing their decisions about their photo sessions. My generation chose to be bodily conscious and sought after what we saw on the gram. Things like Santa photos and sunflower fields. When none of that told the story of our family. None of this captured our Saturday’s snuggling, baking, fishing, or reading.
We don’t get this time back.
Throughout life we have a handful of absolutely life changing exhilarating moments. Those should 100% be on videos / photos.
There is nothing better than being able to relive those moments over and over.
Life isn’t guaranteed. We just don’t know when our last moments when our loved ones will be.
Unfortunately, I tend to see the value of video take place after a death. I’ll see someone say “I wish had more videos of him or her” or “I’m so glad I have these videos. I can hear their voice or see their facial expressions taking place”
Is there any way we can appreciate this before things happen? Can we realize the value and live intentionally enough to make sure the photos and videos are captured for the future.
Nashville baby photographer | Alexus' lavender newborn session
Sweet Alexus. That HAIR! those lashes! those cheeks and that chunk :) oh, she's just plain gorgeous! But, I mean that seems obvious when you see her mommy. I loved photographing her mommy's maternity session a little while ago and now to meet the baby girl that was in her tummy, is just SO amazing. I truly treasure each baby, each session, each family, etc. They are all so fun to work with!
Thank you, Chris and Laken, for trusting me with your girl. I hope you love these forever!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Josie turns 9 months old!
First of all, I CANNOT believe Josie is 9 months old. Secondly, she was brunette at 6 months and is now a blonde??? and third, she's so amazing, that a 45 minute session turned out a 70 image gallery! Im going to be sad after I see her at 12 months, that I won't get to photograph her every three months :( I truly love capturing a baby's first year! Its such a fun and amazing journey!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Gavin's Newborn Session
Sweet Gavin was incredible for his session! So very docile and sleepy. I got WAY too many photos of him! I hope his parents love every single one. I know, I DO! My favorite feature of his was his lips for sure. I loved putting all the little props and hats on him and posing him so sweetly.
Thank you, Megan, for trusting me with your sweet boy!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Newborn Girl Lillie Kate
Sweet Lillie Kate. Those cheeks. the lips. her beauty goes on and on! I loved working with her mommy during her maternity shoot and meeting LK was amazing. I cannot wait to watch her grow this next year. I know it'll go way too fast! She looks amazing on purple :) and I especially love her photos with her mommy, because her mommy is so much in love with her (she had a long journey to get to become a mommy).
Thank you SO much, Katy for trusting me with LK.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Tennessee Child Photographer | Sisters
Im expanding this year, beyond newborns and maternity to babies and children, and even families. So, I was thrilled with the chance to photograph 5 and 7 year old sisters. What a great experience. The girls were more beautiful than I could have imagined and I loved photographing them. They were very natural at posing and giving me such genuine expressions! I hope their mommy loves these and treasures them forever.
Thank you, Whitney for letting me capture them in their innocent youth.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
