My FAVE sessions-Kristina Graff Photography-Albuquerque, NM

If you’ve followed my work, or even looked around on my website, I bet it will come as no surprise that I love to shoot FAMILIES! But I especially love to shoot families with young kids. If you read my About Me post, then you’ll know I started REALLY getting into photography when my oldest was born. I have taken mucho pictures of my kids, and that may be part of the reason I love to take pictures of young families. But I’ll tell you the main reason:

Kids are completely themselves with no filter.

Sometimes I wish we could all be like little kids in that way. As we get older, we learn to filter what we say depending on who we’re talking to, and we learn to become more self-conscious of how we look or what we accomplish or what we do with our time. Kids are just unapologetically themselves. If they want to watch TV for hours, they do it (if Mom doesn’t stop them). No guilt. If they want to run crazy around the house and scream random words, they do it. They don’t care that mom might be thinking they’re crazy. Of course, this can also bite ya in the butt when they want a certain toy (*cough* lego) and don’t care what they have to do to get it, but I’m not talking about that. I’m only talking about the good! Rose-colored lenses baby. Which brings me to my next point:

When it comes to photography, kids can totally help parents relax.

Or, maybe not relax. But at least feel more like themselves and less self-conscious of how they’re looking in front of the camera. With parents focusing on tickling kids or running around with them or just goofing off with them, they relax. This translates to awesome portraits that aren’t stiff.

But here’s my favorite reason:

I love photographing the connection and love between kids and parents.

Of course, this can happen at any age. But like I said earlier, younger kids usually don’t have that filter developed yet. So if they want to smash their face against their mom’s to show love, then they’ll do it. Or if they want to run and tackle Dad, they’ll do it. I just love it.

Alright, I’m totally inspired and pumped for my next family session!