Thousand Oaks Family Photographer – The L Family

I don’t do very many large group photo sessions, but this shoot was different in that it was a family session and then it split into a couple’s session. The reason I don’t do many of these shoots is due to a few reasons:

1. I am not great at directing people. Being more of a story telling photographer, I am used to just observing life as I just click away. When this session began, they asked “what do you want us to do? How should we stand? Where should we stand?” I replied with “well, I don’t like to pose people, so I usually just ask that you gather naturally.” They all started laughing. Then I started laughing. I guess that is pretty funny. It’s not NATURAL to stand together like this and smile while all looking in the same direction. People wouldn’t just do this naturally. They do it because there is a camera and they are supposed to say “cheese”. That’s how it goes.

2. I don’t love doing group pictures because I am not a perfectionist. I am not saying that you have to be a perfectionist to take group pictures, but you have to be able to see things while you are in the moment. I usually get home and THEN notice that one person wasn’t looking at the camera in 30 of the 35 frames  or someone has a hair tie around their wrist or someone forgot to take off their hat or purse. I SHOULD notice these things, but I usually don’t. Then I have to get into some heavy photoshop work to swap a head or remove the hair tie or purse strap (if even possible). I love photoshop and I love to be challenged, but I don’t like the time involved because it takes time away from my time with my family.

3. I suffer (a little bit) from social anxiety. With large groups, I get nervous. Everyone is looking at me expectantly and I begin to feel very self conscience. For some reason at weddings, it’s not so bad, but I think that is just because I am nervous anyway and instead of an hour of a shooting, it’s all day and I just sort of get over it. The chaos of the wedding kind of mutes the unease I feel. But when it’s myself with a group at a quiet location, I start to clam up a bit.

With all that being said, what I LOVE about photographing large groups is getting to see the family dynamic and getting to capture some candid in between moments. I definitely got to capture some great candid moments with this family and this family was a pleasure to be around. Little Mr. A was HILARIOUS. He was photo bombing the pictures as you will see him below getting pushed away. His mom (the one in the red shirt) decided to pose on the tree for her boyfriend and (in my opinion) created another great candid moment. There was a lot of laughter and it was a really fun hour. I am so happy I was chosen to take their pictures.