When Dave filled out his questionnaire, he described his family's vibe as "relaxed and fun?" with the question mark and everything. I respect the honesty. The Barbarashes are repeat clients, and when I asked what stuck with them from our past work, Dave said our last session was good, no notes. I'll take it. This fall we met in downtown Zionsville to keep documenting what they care about most, which is Ryan growing up and the way the three of them are together.
Family Photo Tips for the Camera-Shy Mom
Susan told me upfront that she isn't comfortable in front of the camera and likes direction on how to pose. I hear this from so many moms, and I get it. I spend my life behind a camera for a reason. So if you're the one dreading this part, here's how I handle it. I give small, specific directions instead of "just act natural," which might be the least helpful phrase in all of photography. Shift your weight to your back foot. Put your hand on his shoulder. Lean in until your cheek almost touches his hair. Cues like that give you something to do, and the second you're doing something, you stop thinking about your face. I also build poses around what you already love doing. Susan is the family hugger, so hugs became one of my favorite tools, because a real hug photographs better than any pose I could make up.
Getting Candid Photos of a Kid Who Is Pure Chaos
Dave's words, not mine: he's the goofball, Susan's the hugger, and Ryan is chaos. Ryan is nine, goofy and easily distracted, and Dave was clear that candid photos of him matter just as much as the posed ones. That's my favorite kind of assignment. With kids Ryan's age, the trick is giving them something to talk about, and for Ryan that's anything sports. Once he got rolling, the eye rolls at Dad's jokes showed up, and so did the grin he kept trying to hide. I'll still ask a nine-year-old for a few looks at the camera. But the frames I love most are the ones where he's mid-story and fully himself.
Why Downtown Zionsville Works for Fall Family Photos
Downtown Zionsville is the spot I suggest when a family wants something a little more polished than a park but still relaxed. The brick Main Street and old storefronts give you a small-town look that doesn't feel like everywhere else, and the street trees turn warm in the fall. It suited the Barbarash family's style, too. Dave described their wardrobe as dressy casual, slacks and polos and informal dresses, and that look fits right in against brick and painted shop fronts. Walking the street gives us easy movement, and the side streets give us quieter corners when we need a break from foot traffic.
The Groupings That Mattered Most
Before every session I ask which groupings are important, and the Barbarashes kept it simple: the whole family together, just Ryan, and Ryan with mom. I love a mom-and-kid set for camera-shy moms, because it gives you a job that has nothing to do with posing. You just get to hold your kid. If you're nervous about photos like Susan, ask for those one-on-one shots with your kids. It's so much easier to forget about the camera when you're focused on somebody you love.
Planning Fall Family Photos in Zionsville
If downtown feels like your kind of backdrop, I put together a guide to the best photo locations in Zionsville for families and seniors, from brick Main Street to the creek at Lions Park. Still deciding on outfits? My fall family photo outfit guide covers colors, layers and shoes. And if your kids need a little warm-up before photo day, start with how to prepare kids for family photos without stress.
The Heart Narrative | Zionsville Family Photographer
Photographer: Lauren Lewis | The Heart Narrative
Session Type: Family Photography
Location: Downtown Zionsville, Indiana
You don't have to love being photographed to love your photos. Tell me what makes you nervous, and I'll guide you through every minute of it. Let's marvel in your messy, just as it is. Start planning your family session here. Let's do it!!
