My family photo shoot with Images by Bethany & Giveaway!
Family photos…usually, for mom, an absolute nightmare. First, sourcing the photographer. Next, choosing a location. Then deciding what to wear. The actual shoot day is no walk in the park either…in fact, it’s usually the worst part. Getting the kids dressed and keeping them clean. Trying to make yourself presentable. Using every ounce of patience you have to not loose it on your clan as they whine that they don’t want their picture taken…by the time the shoot begins, you can’t wait for it to be over.
I don’t know about you, but this is usually my experience with corralling the family to get a few precious snaps of all of us together. My most recent experience, however, was different. Perhaps it is because my kids are a little older and “easier” (relative term) to manage, perhaps I’m becoming less obsessed with the “perfect family photo” as time goes on or…perhaps it was the experience created for me by Bethany Schiedel of Images by Bethany.
From our initial conversations to our photo viewing session following our shoot, Bethany was an absolute pleasure to work with. She took the time to ask me what kind of pictures I was looking for. She advised me on how to dress our family (“one step up from jeans and not to matchy, matchy“). When we arrived at her beautiful, airy, Gastown studio she took charge. Bethany had clearly planned a “shot list”, which took so much pressure off of me. A mom herself, she knew how to engage my kids and get them involved so that my husband and I could truly relax and be in the moment…this came through in the resulting photographs.
A few weeks after our shoot we went back to Bethany’s studio to view our photos. We decided to make a night of it. As we looked through the slideshow (meticulously timed to beautiful music) we sipped on some wine and nibbled on snacks. Bethany then went through each photo with us as we tried to decide on favourites…which was so incredibly difficult. Bethany patiently allowed us to discuss and debate…we never felt rushed or pressured to make any decisions.
What I love about Bethany is that she truly cares about her subjects. To her, a shoot is not just about getting a couple hundred photos that you can take away on a CD and never look at again (nevermind getting anything printed!). She clearly wants to capture a precious moment in time, which will hang in your home and fill your heart each time you lay eyes on it.
Win your own family photo experience with Images by Bethany including:
one 8×10 print of your choice
What to dress everyone in!!
Lovely pictures! My least favorite part would probably be getting the kids ready – always a hassle
least favorite part about getting family photos taken is- Well we have never had family photos take but I can imagine it would be to keep us quiet and smiling trying not to get weird shots because we are trying to make sure our daughter is smiling and standing or not running away.
Everything you mentioned. The dressing, keeping them clean, the defiance of actually being in the pictures… Oh and how they turn out
I would say trying to not feel like a goof ball while smiling and hoping I end up looking half decent…and then you throw kids in the mix and it’s extra crazy!
Trying not to smile awkwardly – or getting a big zit just in time for the shoot!!! ha ha. Never had a family shoot though!
I’ve never had a family photoshoot, but I imagine getting a breakout just in time would be rather annoying (and likely)!
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My least favourite part is trying to get everyone together, especially as I want to do an extended family shoot, and we all live in different cities (Vancouver, New York, and Toronto)! BTW: your pics and family are gorgeous!
Definetly rushing out to try to find coordinated outfits!! Hate it!!
Putting on makeup and finding a shirt that isn’t see-through under lights.
Getting everyone to look good in one photo! Until now it’s been absolutely impossible!
My least favorite part is figuring out what we should all wear. I would love to win this price. The last family photo we had done was back 3 years ago.
Agi:)
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Love Bethany’s work! We’ve never had a family photo done – I think because I dread the prep work required and my 3 year old hates her photo taken and covers her face with her hands. Would love to work with a photographer who could get her to look at the camera!
Trying to get my daughter to smile. She tells me she “doesn’t know how”!
Least favorite thing would be to get my dog to look at the camera!
Great photos!
We’ve never had family photos done but I suspect my least favourite part would be doing my hair – LOL! Kids are now 7 and 10 YO so they should behave, husband will do and wear as I tell him but my hair has a mind of it’s own!!
my least favorite part would be trying to convince my hubby to even participate AT ALL. He hates having his photo taken but i’m wearing him down one photo at a time lol!!
Getting my hair to cooperate and deciding what to wear
Figuring out what to wear. and making my hair look decent-shouldn’t be as difficult as it is!
Least fave part is deciding how to coordinate outfits. Ugh. I am so not good at that stuff.
Trying to get everyone together at the same time and place.
The cooperation of the kids, they seem to be more defiant when the photographer is there than any other time!
Hardest part for us is whether or not our youngest child will cooperate. Sometimes we get gold…other times we get skunked. She has all the control there!
[...] I had some amazing photos taken by Vancouver photographer, Bethany Schiedel (www.imagesbybethany.com). I was so impressed with [...]