A family photoshoot that felt like playtime
What do you do when it's time for your family photoshoot and the kids are full of beans? You run around and play!
That’s just what we did for this High Park photoshoot. These spirited sisters had some energy to burn. The moment they arrived, they started asking when the shoot would be over so they could get the ice cream they’d been promised. And could I blame them? It was a warm summer evening, and the ice cream at Grenadier Café was so close — plus they hadn’t experienced a fun photoshoot with me!
I got down to their level and said, “Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be some boring photoshoot where I make you stand still and say cheese for the camera. We’re going to run around, play games and have fun!”
Their eyes lit up. They were on board! As they explored the new surroundings, I had a chance to chat with their parents and explain my plan of attack. I had scouted the location earlier that week, so I already knew where the most flattering light was at that time of the evening, which spots yielded the prettiest backgrounds, and the best angles to shoot from. By planning my shots in advance, I could focus all my attention on interacting with the family and giving them a great experience.
Games galore
The shoot began with a simple game that had the parents standing in a field in front of some majestic old trees. I positioned myself a few meters away, armed with my trusty zoom lens. The kids stood by my side, waiting for their cue. With a shout of "Ready, set, go!" they sprinted towards their parents, who eagerly scooped them up into their arms. The result was a series of shots bursting with movement, energy, and pure joy.
The kids had so much fun, they wanted to do it again. For variety, we moved a few meters and changed the angle. This time, when the parents picked up the girls, they spun them around. This evolved into dad swinging each daughter around and around. The kids couldn't get enough.
Next up was a version of the parachute game, using a picnic blanket. I handed the parents a neutral throw blanket I’d brought, and I had them each grab two corners and stand a few feet apart. When they lifted the blanket into the air, the kids ran under it towards me, roaring with laughter. (These shots have been omitted from this post, as the parents requested that their children's' faces not be shown.)
Going for a stroll
After all the excitement, I suggested we take a walk down the hill to the next location, stopping to smell the flowers along the way. I kept on shooting — these in-between moments often make for the loveliest pictures. Once we reached the bottom of the hill, we took another path that offered a different background. This time I asked the kids to walk up ahead, while the parents strolled arm-in-arm behind them. The result was some lovely shots of the kids up front, with the parents artistically out of focus in the background.
The path led us to a stunning meadow of wildflowers. Now that the kids had expended some energy, the family was ready to settle down for some quiet moments together. As the kids snuggled with their parents, I used fun prompts to evoke natural smiles and laughter.
Kisses and cuddles
Finally, after we walked back up the hill, I grabbed some shots of the kids together and individually with each parent. We captured kisses, cuddles, and yet more silliness. One thing was clear: this is one fun, easygoing, and loving family. And I have a feeling that next time, the kids won’t be asking when it will be over!
