Why I Shoot Til The Very End

I used to put my camera away when the session was "over". We were done with the official portion and now we were walking back to our cars. I no longer do that. Why? I'm going to share that with you today :)

Even if I am doing a session with clients I've worked with before, I don't pull out my camera right away. As we make our way to where we will be shooting, I'm talking with them, getting to know them or catching up. During the session, I will often use transitions to take some movement photos or just capture candid moments. In all honesty, I don't typically keep most of those photos but there usually ends up being one or two gems hidden in the rest.

Then we get to the end of the session. We've gotten all the shots we wanted and it's time to walk back to the vehicles. I now keep my camera out for a few reasons. First, when you have little kids, this is the time for documentary mode. I photograph them as they walk back and do whatever it is that they want to do. Maybe they're running or holding Mom's hand or riding on Dad's shoulders. These are precious moments that I can capture, as long as I still have my camera out. These are the moments I used to miss because I packed things up as soon as the official session was over.

Never underestimate the moments that can happen in the in-between times. The little, fleeting moments reveal so much and will be cherished by the family. Photographers, we need to always be ready. Not to neglecting our clients and that interaction with them, but so that we capture them as they truly are.

I will always keep my camera out until the end, especially when I am dealing with littles, because it is in the in-between moments that they give me their true selves.