This week, I had my own Motherhood Session in the Perth Hills with my lovely friend Alyce and I loved every minute of it. I wasn't stressed or worried in the lead up, it all ran very smoothly, was lots of fun for me and my son and she captured some magical photos that I love and adore and will cherish forever.
So here's how I did it (and how you can too)...
My wardrobe didn't cause me any worries
Firstly, I picked and purchased my outfit weeks in advance so I wasn’t worried about what I would wear at all. I knew I felt comfortable and confident in it and it made me feel nice.
Secondly, I picked an outfit for my son that I knew suited the aesthetic I wanted, but that he had also worn plenty of times before and was comfortable and happy in. I did this (and recommend you do too) so I didn't come up against any sensory or fit issues at the session. I also made sure that he was warm! Cold kids are grumpy kids, so this is super important at the beginning and end of the day when the temp is cooler and can drop quickly.
I picked a stunning location that added to the aesthetic but was also the perfect playground for my son...
Of course, location matters. It’s the backdrop of the photos and is the whole vibe of how your images turn out. But it’s also super important that you're realistic about whether your expectations for the session, match the location you are choosing. For instance, I picked a location that was absolutely stunning, but we were completely and entirely surrounded by running water and rocks. There was no hope in hell of him staying dry beyond the first 2 minutes, and for me, I was completely okay with that.
I picked somewhere I knew he would have an absolute ball, climbing, exploring, splashing and being a menace. If he was the type of child who was cautious of rocks and falling, or who didn't like to be wet I never would have picked this location, no matter how beautiful it was.
The same principle would apply if I didn't want photos where we were wet and dirty, or if I knew I was a cautious parent and would be worried about him tripping or falling. It is completely okay to want photos where you are all clean and tidy and dressed nicely in your best clothes, but with that preference know that photos by the water, or at a location with dirt or mud may not be the best choice for you.
The very very very last thing you want to be doing during your session is trying to keep your kids away from the water or the dirt or the mud. That is almost guaranteed to end in a tantrum and a fight, and not be a good vibe for the shoot.
The way to get the very best out of your little one at a session is to have a “yes and” attitude to everything they want to do. So to make sure you can bring your “yes and” attitude to the session, make sure you pick a location that doesn’t have any built in reservations.
I also packed two extra sets of clothes, so that if he got completely soaked and being wet made him cold, we had a back up option (and I can confirm we needed all the back up options).
I am very much the sort of person, that truely means it when I say if we are dirty and wet and messy in our photos, I don’t care. We are dirty and wet and messy most of the time anyway. I like it that way.
I included Props that made sense for me and my son
I bought a few props with me (a basket of flowers, strawberries and a picnic blanket) that were carefully selected to meet two purposes. Firstly, they added to the photos, and secondly they were an added activity for me and my son. Flowers are something that he loves and is completely obsessed with at the moment, so I knew they would be a hit and a forever reminder of the time when he was three and bought me flowers 10 times a day.
I said yes over and over again and focussed on Connection over everything else
Let’s chat a little bit more about that “yes and” attitude.
The very best thing you can do at your session, is follow your child’s lead and really immerse yourself in their play and what it is they want to do.
"I want to walk on the rocks"..."yes and let me hold your hands and help you jump"
"I want to pick a flower"..."yes and can I smell it? Wow it's beautiful, can I please have another?"
"I want to jump in the water"... "Yes that sounds like fun, can I come too?"
"I want to be carried"..."Yes and can you give me a big cuddle...can I have a kiss...can I tell you a story...should we look over here together?"
If you have a wild child (like me), before you arrive at the session, think of some things you love to do together that encourage slowing down for a cuddle. For me and my son, this was storytelling. He LOVES me making up a story about his best friends and the Spidey team and a crazy adventure. It’s part of our bedtime routine, so for us “do you want a Spidey story” worked perfectly for a big cuddle and means we captured something that is so very us at this stage of life.
If you have a shy and quiet child, try and think of some activities and play that really brings them out of their shell at home. Can we integrate this into part of the session so we capture a bit of their wild side too?
Leave the discipline at home. Your little one might (lets be honest, they probably will) do something a bit naughty or cheeky during the session. They are having fun, if they push a boundary, just redirect. You have their whole life to teach them right from wrong. Right now in this hour, is not the time. I promise you, your photographer is not judging you for letting this one slide. I know I very much prefer it that way. And truely there is no coming back from a kid that’s just been scolded by their parent, and is having a big meltdown. All the fun is gone, for them and you.
Don’t be worried about a few tears from a small trip or a lost flower. Take it in your stride and mother them. Is there anything more special than photos of you actually mothering your child, like you do every single day. The long deep cuddles you really feel when they have a big cry?
Even my session, that went perfectly in my eyes, had some tears over a flower lost to the creek. And we cuddled and I apologised for losing the flower and we found another and made it better and they are some of my favourite photos. I would recognise that floppy “I can’t go on without my flower” dead weight in my arms cuddle anywhere. It’s an almost daily occurrence for one small reason or another.
One day I won’t be able to carry him as he cries and it will break my heart. But for now I can and I treasure it, as much as any smile.
And that's all mama. Now it's your turn.
Book a Perth Motherhood Photography Session just like this on one of my final Spring Dates.
Or if you're a Gold Coast Mama, get in touch today and we can start planning the motherhood shoot of your dreams this Summer.
Photos captured by my beautiful friend, Alyce (Alyce Suratman Photography) and edited by me.
