My approach to photographing tweens and teens | barnfotograf Stockholm

In a nutshell, I let them be themselves :). I give them tips on what to wear - something that won’t embarrass them when they look back on the photos in years to come. We chat, I make bad jokes and I basically capture them as they are. If they don’t feel like giving me a big smile, that’s absolutely okay. If they want to horse around and be playful, that’s okay too. If they want to channel their inner James Dean and just be cool, I will photograph that.

I love when families book photo sessions for their tweens and teens. These are their last few years before they fly the nest, why not capture this period. I know one mom who gives each of her children a big photo book when they move out, full of all the key moments in their life. I will definitely be stealing that idea for my girls when the time comes :)

My approach to sibling photography | Familjefotograf Stockholm

As you all enjoyed my recent blog post My Approach to Family Photography, I thought you might also enjoying hearing about how I approach photographing siblings.

Hopefully, you will by now notice a common theme in my approach - FUN. For the most part, I do my best to illict laughter from younger siblings. I don’t tell younger siblings to smile. I give them a reason to smile. Sometimes that’s my bad Swedish, sometimes it’s their parents dancing (yes, I have been known to make parents dance) and sometimes they are just so naturally happy that all I have to do is lift my camera and I’m getting the megawatt smiles.

I also like to get my little subjects to engage in something fun, for example, whispering their favourite ice cream flavour to each other and I have to guess it, reading together, tickling each other, or just them lost in their own world of play. Sometimes though (and because they are usually my favourite kind of shots), I will aim for a more serious expression. The right kind of serious look can make for a very interesting photograph ;)

My approach to family photography - the Jolly way

When you are six feet under, how do you want your loved ones to remember you? What would you want your photographs to say about you?

Now, I could be wrong, but I doubt anyone wants to be remembered as a grumpy bugger. Right? I can safely say all my photo sessions are grumpy bugger-free. And why is that? First of all, I prepare all my clients for our photo sessions. They get tips on what to wear and what to bring to their photo session, and they are told exactly how the shoot is going to flow and how I will direct them, so there is no sense of uncertainity on the day. On top of that, I create a fun and positive atmosphere, so if there was any trace of grumpiness right before our session, it would soon dissipate and before you know it you would have a pain in your face from smiling (natural smiles that is, no forced smiles on my watch).

So, now you know. Jolly photo sessions feel natural, fun and relaxed. You will be well prepared in advace and treated like a favourite cousin on the day. And best of all, you will have beautiful, timeless, grumpy bugger-free photographs to cherish forever ;)

5 reasons why you should have your baby photographed at home

Discover why choosing a natural baby photo session at home will leave you feeling happy, relaxed and thankful….

Imagine this - you come home from hospital with an adorable addition to your family. You know that you absolutely need to capture this beautiful and fleeing time of your life. Why not take the easy and, dare I say, fun option and let me come to your home to create timeless and priceless photographs of your new baby.

Here are 5 reasons why this could be the best choice for you:

1. There is no need to bundle up your baby and travel to a studio

2. You will have everything you need for you and the baby close by

3. The pictures will be very personal, as they are taken in your own home

4. Your baby will appreciate seeing how their home looked when they are all grown up

5. You will feel far more comfortable and relaxed in your home environment

What other parents are saying:

“To invite Sandra into our home has been a true pleasure. It’s not just practical to take photos at home, it also gives you a new perspective on your own home. To take photos at home, in an environment where you and your children feel comfortable, makes pictures personal.

Sandra has the ability to work purposefully and professionally, and she makes everyone around her feel comfortable in the situation. She gets the best out of your children who seldom want to be photographed. Children appreciate her playfulness and security, which means they can fully be themselves. My child has several times asked if Sandra can come here again. They obviously had fun when she was here!

I can absolutely recommend Sandra to everyone who wants personal family photographs and portraits. They are worth every krona. The pictures we had taken hang both in the children’s room and our living room and make us happy every day. The pictures are such nice memories for today and the future.

The pictures were absolutely fantastic! Better than I could ever have imagined. I often get asked who took our photographs, and I notice that the photographs catches peoples’ interest. For me the pictures are not just nice art, but also dear memories for life.” - Cilla, Saltsjö-Boo

“These photographs stand out so much from all the pictures we have taken. It’s the ones we want to see exposed in the house. They make a great gift.” - Mick, Stockholm