The holiday season will soon be upon us and what better way to ring in the season than a professional family photoshoot! Whether digital or hard copy, I love receiving adorable holiday cards from my family and friends. As a parent of two young kids though, I know the stress leading up a family photoshoot and the “behind the scenes” effort it takes to pull off that perfect family photo. Just getting my kids to sit still for ten minutes, let alone smile for a camera, is a success story. That’s why when we had the opportunity to take our family photo this year at camp with photographer Jodi Applebaum, I jumped on it right away.
First, Jodi specializes in family photography so she was so calm and patient as we worked to get the “winning shot”. She was also fun and silly with my kids so they were in a great mood the entire shoot. Second, hosting the shoot at Rolling River was a convenient and comfortable location for my kids. They clearly did not need any convincing to go to camp!
Jodi had so much fun at our photoshoot that she offered to dedicate an entire day to Rolling River families at a special discounted price. Jodi will bring her holiday mini sessions to Rolling River on Saturday, October 24 between 9:00am and 4:00pm. She will also bring holiday backdrops and props so you can customize your photoshoot scene. Appointments will be first come, first serve to Rolling River enrolled families only so make sure to text her at 516-459-5284 to confirm your time. More information and pricing can be found below. In the meantime, Jodi shared with me some of her best tips for a successful family photoshoot. It’s a great opportunity to get your holiday photos done with an incredible photographer so we hope to “sea” you in a few weeks at our “Family Photoshoot Day”!
Anchors Aweigh, Marissa Allaben, Rolling River Director
Tips for a Successful and “Stress-Less” Photoshoot from Family Photographer Jodi Applebaum
- Establish a reward with your kids beforehand for good behavior (i.e. ice cream date, extra screen time)
- Make sure they have a light snack, but not a lot of sugar, before the shoot so they are not hungry
- Have everyone’s clothing prepared the night before to be sure you have all items the day of the shoot. Also try on clothing items beforehand to ensure it fits!
- Remember the little details like headbands and belts- they count and look great in pictures
- Leave with 15 minutes to spare to allow for traffic since rushing equals stress!
- Once you arrive at the shoot, just let go and let the photographer do all the work! That’s what you are paying them for. Family photographers are used to working with shy kids, difficult kids and rowdy kids so don’t worry! It’s all part of their provided service- to loosen them up and get them to smile. So relax…and maybe they will catch you smiling too!
