Let’s face it. Sometimes one person wants to have photos taken and their partner just begrudgingly goes along with it. First and foremost, it is MY JOB to make the process fun, relaxed, and enjoyable to break down those walls and turn it into a positive experience for everyone. But I’ve learned that it can be extra helpful if your partner knows what he or she is getting themselves into beforehand! So, here are my 3 tips for prepping a partner that just isn’t into it like you are :)

1) Talk to them about WHY photos are important to you (& what you plan to do with them)

Do you want photos taken so you can send them to your relatives you don’t often get to see in person?
Do you want to start a tradition of creating an album each year rather than letting images pile up on a hard drive (or 5)??
If you’re dating, maybe there’s a particular anniversary coming up and it’s important to document your love story together.
If you’re married, maybe it’s documenting the fact that you made it through your first year and you still like each other!! Or maybe you want to have photos taken to celebrate making it through a rough patch with finances, health, work, etc.
If you’re pregnant, talk about how much you want to remember the good parts of pregnancy, even if you’re feeling bloated and nauseous most of the time!
If you have kids… maybe it’s meaningful to you that your kids will have quality, professional photos of them with their parents for years or generations to come

2) Involve your partner in the process

Sometimes when you let a partner contribute to the creation of a session, they are more invested in the process.
Let your partner into the process of choosing a photographer, choosing a time of year to have photos taken, choosing the location, choosing the outfits.
Communicate all the logistics so he/she knows what to expect when showing up to the session. This can include any info your photographer sends you about their approach and length of the session.

3) Look at your photographer’s portfolio together

You may have done this during the phase of selecting a photographer, but sit down for a few minutes together and talk about which images you are drawn to.
Talk about why you love those photos in particular. I think this part can be helpful so you get on the same page about what you like and set your expectations.
If you want to get really deep, you can link this conversation back to the one about WHY you want photos in the first place. If you’re still reading this, maybe you’re like me and you love the photos that tell a story over the standard family portrait with everyone smiling at the camera. Maybe it’s cool to think about how future generations would interpret those stories… and now I’ve gone down the rabbit hole.

Bottom line, I want this to be a positive process for everyone and am here to help facilitate that as much as I can. If you can even have a quick conversation with your partner, I’m sure that effort will be well worth it and the photos will reflect that!

xo,

Kasey