When you have four kids and a dog, easy and fun family photos may just be a must. It turns out, the front yard can be the perfect location. First of all, it was pretty. Green and nicely manicured is always a winner. This was a morning session so the sun was coming up from behind their house which made for great back light. And the convenience factor was ideal. A personal location keeps everyone comfortable and makes taking breaks easy. Snacks and bathrooms are at hand, and we know how important snacks and bathrooms are to kids and adults alike!
The Vibe
Mom dressed everyone in neutrals and greens and I love it! I adore a mix of neutrals for a comfortable sophisticated look and it fits into so many settings perfectly, such as this one. I am so very lucky to have photographed this charming family a few times now, check these out from a few years ago. And every time the kids are lovely to work with. You know how I always say that kids can’t help but be themselves even with a camera pointed at them? It’s true once again. The kids are sweet and adorable and happy to cuddle and be playful with mom and dad. In the end we created super playful and heartfelt images that showcase the kids personalities and family connection. When the kids look back on these as grown ups, they will immediately be transported to this time and place. That’s so stinking special!
I am already looking forward to the next time I get to spend some time with this warm and playful family.
Gear and Settings
Sony A7iv 24-70 2.8 Nikon D750 70-200 2.8 It was sunny and there was plenty of light so my ISO stayed at about 600. I always keep aperture as open as possible, but this was a large group so 3.6 if the group was in a straight line 4.0 if they were mixed up and 2.8 for the single shots. Shutter speed was adjusted as needed.
If we haven’t met yet, hi helloooo I’m Leslie 🤍
I’ve been behind the camera for 13+ years, and I’ve learned this the hard way your clients don’t need to be “photogenic”… they need to be directed.
Most photographers think posing is about telling someone where to put their hands. It’s not.
It’s about making people feel something natural enough that the pose disappears.
My clients don’t walk in as models.
They’re everyday people who feel awkward, stiff, and unsure what to do with their bodies.
But with the right posing framework, they leave looking like the best version of themselves.
Here’s what I teach photographers after 13 years of trial, error, and thousands of shoots:
As a photographer, your job is to
– never say “just be natural” (they won’t)
– guide micro movements (chin, shoulders, hands matter)
– create motion instead of stiffness (movement beats posing)
– build trust so expressions become real, not forced
Because great photos aren’t about perfect angles…
They’re about making your client feel seen, comfortable, and confident in front of your lens.
Posing is a skill. Direction is an art.
And once you understand both, everything about your photography changes.
💬DM “POSE” if you want my exact client directing prompts I use on every shoot
POV: you let it happen.
You stopped worrying about the perfect pose, the perfect smile, or what you were supposed to do with your hands.
You just showed up and let the moment be what it was.
And somehow, that’s always when the photos feel the most like you🤍
The real laughs.
The little looks.
The soft moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
That’s the kind of beauty I’m always looking for.
If you want photos that feel natural and easy, without all the pressure to perform for the camera, I’d love to capture that for you📸
Imagine if your photographer sent you photos like this.
The kind you open and instantly feel something.
Not because everyone is posed perfectly, but because it feels familiar.
Like your family, your love, your little world, captured exactly as it is.
✨The soft smiles.
✨The tiny details.
✨The way your kids look at you.
✨The moments that feel simple now, but will mean so much later.
That’s the beauty of photos like these, they don’t just show what everyone looked like, they bring you back to how it all felt.
If this is the kind of feeling you want in your photos, I’d love to help you create it📸
“They’re just photos.”
But really, they’re the little things you’ll always want to remember.
The way they smile at you.
The tiny hands.
The messy laughs.
The cuddles, the chaos, the love.
The season your family is in right now🤍
Photos have a way of making the everyday feel special, even the moments that seemed so simple while they were happening.
And that’s what I love capturing most: the real, sweet, in-between pieces of your life.
If you’ve been wanting photos that feel warm, natural, and full of the people you love, I’d love to help you capture this season exactly as it feels.📸
POV: you wanted photos that feel like love in the movies, so you hired me.
But not just the big, dramatic kind of love.
The everyday kind.
The tiny hands wrapped around yours.
The giggles you wish you could save forever.
The way your people look at each other when they forget anyone is watching.
That’s what I want to capture: the real feeling of it all.🤍
If you want photos that feel like your kind of love, comment “PHOTO” and let’s create something you’ll want to keep forever📸
