Daniel Boone Homestead

Berks County, Pennsylvania

November 9th, 2022

This past November I had the pleasure of photographing the Boyle family. We met for a golden hour session at the Daniel Boone Homestead in Birdsboro, PA. This is my go-to photo location in the area for so many reasons. I just love the nature here, the historic grounds, and its pure beauty at sunset. After a beautiful night with the Boyles, I ran home to upload these photos. Looking back on it, I think this is an amazing example of my family photo process. I wanted to share this and go through my session checklist with you. These are the necessary shots that you’ll want photographed for your next family session:

1. I always begin my session with encouraging energy and I try my best to excite the kids. I want this to be a fun and enjoyable experience for the whole family. I have found that getting to know the kids and their interests is the best way to bring out those smiles. I don’t want to be a scary stranger with a camera. It is important to me to build that trust and friendship.
2. After a few minutes of chatting and possibly walking to our first photo spot, I start with the full family photo. This is a simple and essential smiling shot. It is usually a standing pose and probably the most simple photo in your gallery. My goal is to make sure everyone is looking at the camera and we capture those adorable smiles.
3. Once we nail that first pose, I like to head into some fun prompts. This could be a family tickle fight or possibly hand-holding walking or running prompt. This will depend on our location and backdrop. When I set the Boyles on this cut tree log, I knew it was the perfect spot for a tickle fight. It brought some cute smiles out of the whole family and made the experience really fun.
4. Next on the list is the kids, whether it’s a larger family or you have an only child. These are the photos grandma and grandpa are asking for! I love when siblings lean in for a sweet hug or the little ones hold hands together. I usually ask parents to hop behind me for this photo to make goofy faces and encourage any giggles we can. This is the same for individual photos. I loosely direct a pose or how to position their hands, but this is where I like to let their personality come out.
5. Last, but not least, it’s the parents’ time to shine. You would not believe how many parents have told me “OMG we haven’t had a photo taken together since our wedding day!” This is simply a tragedy. I like to take this opportunity to put mom and dad in the spotlight. I usually start off with a nice smile, then I ask them to look at each other. Finally, I prompt the two to lean in for the kiss! These shots are just as important as the kids.

I hope this gave you a little more insight to how my typical family session plays out. I follow this step by step everytime I shoot. Take a look at the Boyle Family’s gallery for some inspiration. I hope to work with you soon!