Lessons
Class Introduction
10:48 2What is Meaningful Lifestyle Family Photography?
15:37 3Settings for Shoots
10:50 4Light, Composition & Location
10:47 5Settings Q&A
08:54 6Why Connection is Important
15:11 7Connection Q&A
09:36 8Session Experience
10:43Marketing Strategy for Lifestyle Family Photography
09:34 10Family Preparation
14:11 11How to Get to Know Families Fast
12:22 12The Actual Shoot
08:10 13Considerations for a Photograph
11:43 14The Family Session Workflow
07:38 15Shoot: Start Standing
05:49 16Shoot: Money Shot & Siblings
05:08 17Shoot: Time to be Seated
06:41 18Shoot: Portrait of Each Child
02:09 19Shoot: Laying Down
04:25 20Shoot: Mom & Dad Alone with Child
06:50 21Shoot: Movement Poses & Everyone in The Frame
04:07 22Shoot: Parents Together & Mom Alone
04:40 23Additional Shoot Considerations
04:38 24Review Images from Shoot
07:17 25Shoot Q&A
08:23 26Pricing & Business Strategy
21:15 27My Editing Strategy
04:54 28How to Cull Images
03:44 29Outsourcing Post Production
12:53 30Image Gallery Delivery
08:42 31Pricing & Business Q&A
11:00 32Finalize The Client Experience
05:20Lesson Info
Shoot: Time to be Seated
Now we are going to do some seated poses and these are some of my favorite. Usually, at this time, if we were on location, we would probably move to a different spot. 'Cause it's kinda fun to use your location differently like that. Obviously we're not, we're inside, so we're gonna just do it right here but imagine that we're walking in a field right now, going somewhere different. Alright family, come on in. So when I do it, come here girls, you stand by me for a second. When I do a seated pose, I always want to start with dad 'cause dads have a hard time sitting on the ground. I am gonna pretend that we don't have this wall to lean against because when you're outside, you don't have a wall to lean against and it can be kinda weird for dad. So have a seat here, however, you want. What ever feels comfortable. Oh, he's good, okay. Sit up tall. Alright and then Marci you're gonna come in here and you're gonna sit right next to him. You're gonna kind of lean up against him like this, okay...
? And he is gonna wrap his arm around you. Okay. Let's take your jacket off. Okay. Just because. Sound great. Are you hot? It's warm in here, right? (laughs) It's kinda warm in here. Okay, yep, so I want you to lean up and kind of bend your knees just how you are. That's perfect. Alright, ready you? Ready? (makes sound of motor) Open your legs. Fly in. Aw, can you lean on mother gently so? Then you're gonna come sit on daddy's lap like this, okay? Okay, let's see. Lean back like this with dad. Good job, so we could get another money shot here because they're so gorgeous and they look amazing but, why don't you guys look at me 'cause you look so cute. Ready? (camera shutter clicks) 'Kay so now don't look at me. So snuggle up, Trevor you snuggle into Anna and Marci you snuggle right into Allie. Bring your head up just a little bit like that. Oh my gosh, she's so cute and snuggle up, turn that way. Perfect. 'Cause I wanna see her face. There. Just like that. Snuggle right into her cheek there. (camera shutter clicks) Look right at her with your eyes, look down. (camera shutter clicks) Look up at your daddy. Do you see a booger in his nose? Yeah. (laughs) A big one. (audience laughs) (camera shutter clicks) Like always. (camera shutter clicks) Aw, so cute. (camera shutter clicks) Now Marci and Trevor why don't you try and kinda look at each other if you can. (camera shutter clicks) How about a kiss? (camera shutter clicks) Beautiful. Nice work. (camera shutter clicks) Allie, wanna give momma a kiss? (camera shutter clicks) Good job. Okay. So what I like to do from here is change into one of my favorite poses so I'm gonna have you hop up for second. You can leave her, actually, let's trade. Come here, sweet pea. Let's sit with Daddy. Okay so you are going to lay down in his lap. Hold on, you seem (inaudible). It is warm in here. Come on help me turn. (child murmurs) So lay down right here with your head Marci. Me? Yep Scootsh down. And you want to go like this with your hair, I know. This is when we get a workout at the photo shoot. Scoot down a little bit more. Can I sit down now? Can I sit down? Not yet. Just listen Yep, so go ahead and sit down. Now stay just like that for a minute, okay? Good job. Perfect, okay, so okay I want this hand, this is your ab workout now, you're gonna Okay sit up tall, okay? Then I want you to use that hand and just kind of stroke her cheek or her face, whatever feels. (audience laughs) Whatever feels normal. Not you Anna. (audience sparsely laughs) (camera shutter clicks) Beautiful. Allie, what's Mommy doing? Laying there. Can you look at her? Look at her? (camera shutter clicks) Okay, Allie can you give Daddy a big kiss on the cheek? Good job. Okay Anna, you wanna lay down on Mom's chest? Right there? So go ahead and kick your legs out straight. I'm gonna come and stand right on ya. I'm gonna jump on you. Move over more like that. (groans) Lift your chin up just a little bit. Just look right at me, Momma. Nope. (yawns) (camera shutter clicks) Now just snuggle right into her. (camera shutter clicks) Oh, the tether is coming in my picture. (camera shutter clicks) Perfect. Okay, I'm gonna get these guys. All the details. Look at these little hands right here. I mean how cute is that. Do you wanna miss that? (camera shutter clicks) Then just kinda breathe in her cheek. Just snuggle right in there. (camera shutter clicks) Perfect. Now I want you, Marci look right at me. (camera shutter clicks) You look gorgeous, Mama, seriously so beautiful. This is easy. Good job. Okay, you guys can get up. Don't stand up though. Mom and Dad are gonna sit up. So don't just sit right next to each other. Kinda criss cross. And we're gonna do, now you guys choose whose lap you're wanna sit on. Make sure your butts are touching. I had a feeling that would happen. You want to come here on Daddy's knee. Poor Daddy. Come on Anna. Okay. We gotta do what Allie wants. She's in charge. Put your bottoms right next to each others, Mom and Dad. Bottoms right next to each other. Yep. Okay, girls are you ready? In a second I think they're gonna tickle you. One, two, three, go. (children laugh) Don't look at me while you're doing it. Look at them. (children laugh) (camera shutter clicks) (laughs) Alright, freeze. Perfect. Okay amazing. Alright we could go all day with these guys. They're awesome. Okay we can have a stop. You guys can have a break. You guys can do what ever you'd like. Okay. So again, I put some examples of seated poses in here. And what I'm always thinking about is Mom and how we can make her look beautiful. And I know that sounds like I'm not nice to Dad but I just want Mom to feel like a goddess at my sessions so that's what I'm doing. There you go. Can you see how similar? How I'm doing the same thing over and over again?
Class Materials
Ratings and Reviews
Armstrong Su
is super knowledgable, yet down-to-earth and relatable. I love how he explains the exact gear he uses but also describes ways to accomplish the same look using DIY and less expensive alternatives. The segment where he demos a live shoot in multiple, difficult lighting situations is worth the cost of the class alone! Bonus: He's super funny. He could probably double as a comedian on the side, but I digress. This class was informative, funny, and very practical for any photographer that wants to increase their profit and expand their business into the professional world. He gives all his prices and workflows so you can get up and running in 2 days! :) Awesome class overall, and it's a great sequel to his professional headshot class (which I also bought and loved.)
Sandra Kay Hayes
I am totally in tears watching this, and think that every person going into Photography should watch these. She is a great teacher, and helps us to understand our "why" so much better. I also LOVE that she helps one feel confident with the non-perfect, (or so called) shots, Thank you so much for giving me more confidence to shot what I love and not worry about "rules!!". Best class I've taken I will recommend her to every group I am in!!!
Julia Khris
Elena is a great presenter. Delivers information in a very fun and engaging way. This course would be good for a beginner photographer. She shares the basics, but unfortunately doesn't quite provide advice on the more tricky questions. She shares a lot about her current state of business (10 years in and making enough profit to afford hiring staff). This is great to know what to aim for, however, it would be more beneficial to hear more about HOW to get to this stage. The main idea that I took from this course is: outsource as many processes as you can. Elena doesn't have a very distinctive style (no offence, but there is a huge competition in the style and editing that she works with), I would love to hear her advice on how to win in such high competition, how to convince clients to choose you and pay higher price tag for an equal quality of work. This is a fairly inexpensive class, so I would recommend it to the beginners, but not to the more experienced photographers.