Creating Natural Smiles in the High Desert: A Family Portrait Mini Session

The Setting for a Family Portrait Mini Session

Recently, I had the joy of photographing a family portrait mini session. It was set against the stunning backdrop of the high desert. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in a golden light. It casted a warm glow over the short pines and creating an almost magical atmosphere. The serene beauty of this setting provided the perfect canvas for capturing cherished family moments.

Meeting a Shy Little Boy

Among the family members was a little boy who initially appeared quite shy. Also, he was hesitant about being in front of the camera. His reluctance was evident as he clung close to his parents and avoided direct eye contact. It’s a common challenge in portrait sessions with young children. I knew that finding a way to help him feel comfortable was key to capturing genuine smiles.

Allowing Space

In these situations, I’ve learned that giving space can work wonders. For instance, instead of pushing him to pose or smile on cue, I decided to take a step back and let him explore the surroundings at his own pace. The high desert’s open spaces and gentle breeze provided a relaxed environment where he could feel less pressured. I allowed him to interact with the landscape. This included touching the soft pine needles, watching a gentle gust of wind play with a nearby leaf, and just being a curious child.

As he gradually became more engrossed in the natural beauty around him, his shyness began to fade. His parents were gently encouraged to engage with him in a playful, unforced manner, which further helped him feel at ease. The natural interactions and spontaneous moments that followed were captured beautifully against the golden desert light.

The Results

In conclusion, by giving him space and allowing him to acclimate to the setting, I was able to capture genuine, joyful smiles. This family portrait mini session reflected a true connection and warmth. Furthermore, showcasing not just the beauty of the high desert but also the authentic happiness of the family. This session was a wonderful reminder of how a little patience and understanding can turn a shy moment into a cherished memory.

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    I had the MOST beautiful light and love filled session last night with the coolest and sweetest family. They opted for a full session with their little man which gave us the opportunity to create a million beautiful moments and I can’t wait to share all of them! 

#lasvegasfamilyphotographer #lasvegasportraitphotographer #lasvegaslocals #napcp #theclickcommunity #styleandselect
    This will forever be one of my favorite backdrops for portraits. It just looks like a painting at sunset. 

#lasvegasfamilyphotographer #lasvegasportraitphotographer  #lasvegaslocals #napcp #theclickcommunity
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    Reel Talk… 🤪 I stink at making reels but I need to teach myself and so I am sort of proud that I figured out how to make this on Canva! 

My goal is to hopefully share more behind the scenes stuff on here. I think it would be fun to educate clients on what goes into creating your portrait session besides clicking the camera. So I’m going to try to get better at this stuff. I’m starting to feel like my parents learning this technology stuff but 40’s is the new 20’s! 🤣😂🤣

Also my reach is poo since I’ve been neglecting my page a bit. I will be working on that sometime in the future once I figure my life out! Happy Sunday! 

#lasvegasfamilyphotographer #lasvegaschildphotographer #lasvegaslocals #napcp #clickcommunity #familyphotography #nikon
    So last night I got to do this gorgeous girl’s College Senior Portraits and a cute little couples session with her boyfriend. I did her High School Senior Portraits 4 years ago. 

Her mom is a family friend and they live in California. So they are so sweet to take a drive out to Vegas to see me for their portraits! I don’t typically do Senior or Couples only portraits. So this was a change of pace for me for sure and almost makes me want to take on more couples because these came out SO cute! 

I will be sharing more, but this was literally the very last photo we took and I made them stop and take it when we were already walking back because that sunset was worth it. 

#lasvegasfamilyphotographer #lasvegasportraitphotographer #lasvegaslocals #napcp #theclickcommunity
    What are some of your 2025 goals?

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