I usually make a unique plan for every family session keeping in mind their dynamic, personalities and the location. Having this framework in place does wonders for my pre-session anxieties but it also sets up candid moments. Yes, we as photographers need to set the scene to create the "un staged" photos you see. So let's take a look at a few photos and I will tell you a how I got them to look the way they do. This session happened at the Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center during the holiday months. While it was challenging to photograph this family around all the crowds of tourists, with a little strategic placement, it all ended up perfectly.

chihuly family photos: a family of four sitting inside the chihuly garden and glass museum at the seattle center

I saw that there was a bench in this huge open indoor room so I thought the best first shot would be to ask the family to sit down. It's more relaxed, they all have something to do with their hands (trust me, this is a huge factor when being photographed). Once they were seated, I asked them to focus on each other by directing the adults where to look. I wanted the kids to have no instructions initially so I let them direct themselves.

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