The session I used to be the most terrified of is now my favorite! In the past, I wished all families that booked me only had one little baby that still slept all day and couldn’t run away from me yet haha. Or maybe even a senior girl that was a total natural in front of the camera and listened to everything I said. I would get so nervous before a family session with several young kids or heaven forbid, toddlers! How will I win them over? Will they listen to me? What if they cry the whole time? Will dad just roll his eyes when I give him directions? Once I figured out how to work with energetic kids instead of against them, it all changed! Of course kids don’t want to stand perfectly still and take a list of instructions from a stranger. And no kid gives a natural smile when you say, “look here and say cheese”. Instead we play games and run and cuddle and it’s magical. Family sessions are so fun and are now my favorite to shoot! Every session ends up going so differently, highlighting each family’s unique dynamic. I love how I can give families the same games to play and yet the photos end up being one of a kind. Capturing the love and joy within families can’t be beat!
slc family photographer
Finding the Light
These photos were taken in just a few minutes in my living room one morning. Ava is at the age where she gets really excited when I want to take pictures of her, so it’s fun. Tess is hard to get to cooperate haha. I swear she has the energy of 5 toddlers some days! Today was kind of a rough mom day. The kids fought a lot and did very little listening when I tried to break them up. It was a long day! I edited these photos after I put them to bed, and it was such a nice reminder that they do actually love each other and get along really well most days. And they are pretty dang cute if I do say so myself! I’m so lucky I get to be their mom. I think I will go sneak an extra kiss from these sleeping angels before I go to bed.
What to Expect
I want to cover a few questions and concerns I get asked frequently in hopes of helping you know what you can expect when booking a session with me. I know it may be hard to believe (especially if you have had a bad family photo experience in the past) but we are going to have fun together! I know for most people, (husbands especially) having their photo taken is not something they look forward to. I know just how to make you feel comfortable and relax in front of my camera to capture natural smiles and emotion. When you book a session, you will receive my free Welcome Guide full of tips for choosing outfits and lots of great info to ensure your experience goes as smoothly as possible.
Here is how a typical family session will go… I always start with the entire family smiling and looking at the camera. After we get a few of those shots, we will break off into smaller groups as well as get individual shots. We will finish your session by all coming back together. This is the fun part where we play games and get more candid shots! I try to get some more tender/loving shots as well as some playful ones. You will cry happy tears when you see the photos of you loving on your sweet family and just having fun together!
Family Photos + What to Wear
The number one worry I hear from my clients when they’re preparing for their family session, is how stressful deciding what to wear is. I know it can be especially overwhelming to dress a whole family! Everyone that books a family session with me gets my complete Family Welcome Guide, full of info for preparing for your session as well as tips and examples for what to wear! I want to quickly share of few of them to help relieve a little stress and make your upcoming family session go as smoothly as possible! For more ideas, follow me on Pinterest, where I have an Outfit Inspiration board.
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Meet Madison
I don’t think I have ever fully introduced myself here, so I’m going to give you a little intro to where I came from and how I got to where I am today. My first name is Madison, but friends and family shorten it to Mad. I’m originally from Cleveland…. Utah. When I tell people I’m from Cleveland everyone assumes I mean the one in Ohio because very few people know there is one in Utah. Cleveland is a really small town in Eastern Utah. Small like 500 people small. I loved growing up in a tiny town and still go back all the time! We camped and fished and rode four wheelers around town. I will always be a small-town girl at heart!
Avett Rae + Lifestyle Newborn
Watching new parents with a fresh little babe never gets old! There is something so special about capturing their new love in the comfort of their own home. Especially when their home is so cute! Avett was the best newborn I have ever seen! She slept almost the entire time and was a perfect little angel. She’s the sweetest!
Soffe Family + Snowy Maternity Session
This gorgeous family just announced they will be adding a baby boy to their family and I’m thrilled for them! This session lit my photographer soul on fire! It was my first family session in the snow, so I was a little worried about everyone freezing but it went so well and now I want to shoot soooo many more snowy sessions! I’m not a huge fan of winter, but it’s beauty may have converted me. I mean, how beautiful are those snow covered pines? Lindsey is gorgeous and so sweet. I was dying over her dress and her pretty hair (that I’m a little envious of). After I sent the gallery, Lindsey sent me the most kind words saying how much she loved them and they brought her to tears. That is why I do this. I want every family to have photos that mean that much to them. I just adore her, she immediately asked where she could leave me a review. Who does that? Anyways, I’m obsessed with these. Enjoy!
Trabert Family + In-Home Lifestyle Session
Man parenting is hard. So much of it happens inside our homes, with nobody around to encourage us or cheer us on. It goes unnoticed and at times, feels very under appreciated. (unrelated: does anyone have tips for getting two toddlers to go to bed? Asking for a friend). As hard as it can be, it also brings an insane amount of happiness, joy and fulfillment.
These are just a few reasons in-home sessions fulfill me. I want to help parents see the joy in the hard times and remember why they do what they do… day in and day out. I love documenting families in their space. Kids feel more relaxed and I love watching them just be. Parents can be carefree and just play with and love on their kids. It feels more real to me.
I had a great time at this session. Thanks for having me Trabert family!
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Sandra + Maternity Session
I admire Sandra so much! We met while we were both going to school at Utah State and we have been lucky enough to keep in touch over the years. I am so happy for her, and was so grateful when she asked me to take her maternity photos! We were in the process of scheduling the shoot and choosing a location when she went into preterm labor and has had to stay in the hospital on bedrest since. I know it’s been hard (and boring) but she has stayed positive and agreed to let me do the session at the hospital. A couple of the sweet hospital aides even came in on their day off to do Sandra’s hair and makeup and they did a great job. I love nice people! I still wanted her to have photos of her with her cute baby belly. I know this hospital stay is far from ideal, but it will still be a part of this baby’s story that she will love to hear about someday. Sandra has been stable and doing really well, so it was a nice surprise to be able to explore the hospital and even take a few photos across the street. Sandra is so beautiful, inside and out. Her and her husband Blaine are going to make such great parents! Congratulations you two! Can’t wait to meet your little girl.
Tess Jamie is 2!
We celebrated Tess’s birthday over the weekend! We are so grateful for this little girl. She is so fiery and hilarious. Ava was just watching her yesterday and looked over at me and said, “Mom, she’s so cute.” I have to agree. If you want to reminisce with me you can see her first birthday photos here and read her birth story here.
