Why You Should Book a Morning Shoot for Family Pictures | Whitney Beth Photography
 

If you're reading this right now and are in the throws of mothering young kids I can feel you flinch when I throw out the phrase, "early morning photoshoot." Just thinking about how early you're going to have to wake up on what little sleep you already get is enough to hit the snooze button a dozen or more times, but hear me out, this will work out, and it will be beautiful. (Every picture I use in this post was taken at a morning photoshoot.)

So, what's so great about an early morning photoshoot? Why is it my favorite time to shoot?

I'm glad you asked, lets dive in. 

1. You only have to get your kids ready ONCE.

Let me say that again, only ONE time of brushing their hair, getting them dressed, washing their face and then that's it. As far as I'm concerned, after pictures are done my child can look like pig pen, I don't care. The pictures are done and we have the whole day ahead of ourselves. 

2. Popular locations are empty.

You know who doesn't want to wake up before the sun and go tromp around in all the popular locations for photoshoots? like 87% of Utah. When I drug my family out to the famous, Mantua Poppies we had the entire field to ourselves! No photoshopping people out, no fighting or waiting for spots, we could go and come as we pleased and it was glorious! 

3. Your children are HAPPY.

Did you know the best time to shoot in the evening is about an hour before sunset, leading all the way up until that glorious ball of fire dips past the horizon? Did you know that that is usually when kids are put to bed? Of course you do, you are all too familiar with that lovely "witching hour" that descends on small children between dinner and bed time. Ya, it's fun. And while I pride myself on getting kids to listen to me and play games and have fun, I often see that parents are stressed trying to get their kid to look at me and do whatever it is I've asked - which results in cute kids, stressed adults. Stressed adults are less likely to like their pictures when they look back at them later on and they remember the stress. It's a vicious cycle. Mornings, on the other hand, can be quite delightful. Children are (usually) happy in the mornings, they've just woken up, had breakfast and it's not nap time yet. Happy kids equal happy adults, equals happy pictures.

4. The light is different.

This may seem like a weird point to have, but I'll try and do my best to explain it. The light that kisses our cheeks in the morning has a lightness about it that is hard to describe. It is more white, and light filled as opposed to the golden sunset. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE golden sunsets, but having different light thrown in my editing queue every now and then recharges my batteries.) The light that morning brings feels like a soft, secret that the world is sharing with only those that are awake enough to embrace it. It signifies a new day, full of hope and wonder. I want my photographs of your family to relish in that hopeful light. I want you to see the happy and feel it deep in your soul. Morning light is full of love and I want that love to translate in your pictures. 

So have I convinced you yet? I know morning shoots are a lot of work - especially for mom, but they can be amazing treasures. Whenever we do a morning shoot, it has become tradition to go out to breakfast together. We make it a morning and turn it into family time. Try that next time, and you might just get so lucky that you can all have a family nap afterwards!