Scheduling a photo session for your family can seem like a difficult task. As a parent, your life is busy and hectic. There always seems to be a reason that comes to mind for waiting to book a session. Below are responses to 5 excuses for not getting family photos taken by a professional photographer.

1.  “We’re too busy right now.”

I know that your family is extremely busy. Whether you’re a stay at home parent, or work outside of the house, your daily schedule is filled. Taking your kids to and from school, going to their extracurricular activities, doctor appointments, etc. Adding another task to your already busy schedule may seem like a terrible idea. Why not wait a few months, and then schedule a session when things start to slow down?

The problem with this idea is that things might be just as busy in a few months. It’s also pretty likely that you may have completely forgotten about booking a family photo session. A few months, could easily turn into a few years.

What do I suggest? Think about your schedule. Is there one weekend afternoon where you have a few hours open? That’s really all the time you need. Or, if booking a session right now really is impossible, schedule your session months in advance. This way you’ll already have the session on your calendar, and will know not to schedule anything during that time.

2. “I’m not photogenic.” 

I completely emphasize with parents who may feel self conscious in front of the camera. You might think that you need to postpone a session so you can lose more weight. Or maybe, you’re afraid that a photograph may emphasize things about your physical appearance that you are insecure about.

You don’t have to wait until you lose more weight to book your session. It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are; you are going to look amazing in the photos. A family photo session is about capturing the love and connections that you share with your family. Don’t let your insecurities stop you from having an amazing family photo session. There’s no need to worry. I’ll help you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.

3. “What if my kids don’t cooperate and I end up not liking the photos?” 

I definitely understand why you have this concern, because kids can be unpredictable. For example, let’s say the day of the session, your child wakes up early from a nap. Later, during the session, she starts crying and isn’t acting like her typical, happy self.

It’s a possibility, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get great photos. All it may take is giving your child a snack, or a short break during the session. Or maybe, my silly faces and noises will make her smile for the photos 🙂

Don’t worry. I’m used to interacting with kids and am able to capture them at their very best. I’m so confident you will love your photos, that I offer all of my portrait clients a 100% money-back guarantee. I’ve never had anyone ask for a refund, but I know that offering this makes new clients feel more at ease.

4. “I’m a little bit confused about pricing and how I book a session.”

If you’re ever confused about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I wouldn’t want you to make a wrong assumption, which prevents you from booking a session and getting amazing family photos.

Although I’m happy to answer questions back and forth via e-mail, I’ve found that sometimes a short 5 minute phone call helps. I know you’re busy, and you don’t want to have to keep checking your inbox. A phone call is often a faster and simpler way for you to get all of your questions answered, and it’s also an opportunity for me to learn more about your wonderful family.

5.  “We just got photos taken. We don’t need to schedule a photo session for a a long time.”

I recommend scheduling a family photo session at least once a year. Your children are growing and changing. Because you see them every day, you might not notice this until you are looking at the photos from your session. For babies, I recommend scheduling a newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month photo session. During your baby’s first year, there are some amazing milestones that you will want captured by a professional photographer.

Besides a family photo session, you should also consider booking a few mini sessions each year. These sessions are stylized and usually have a certain theme which is related to a holiday or season (i.e. Spring, Easter, Mother’s Day, etc.). They are a great opportunity to get some more photos of your kids at different times throughout the year.

Did you enjoy reading my responses to the 5 excuses for not getting family photos? If so, leave a comment below 🙂