Ashley, Mark, and Wyatt’s “Perfectly Imperfect” Photo Session (by Scott & Breanna)

Scottie and I (Breanna) have seen it time and time again… 0029 A mom who’s trying so hard to make sure everyone is looking and acting perfect on picture day, that her worst fears are actually coming true because her stress is stressing the kids out, causing tension between her and her husband, and she looks crazy frazzled in all the photos! (See more about how to avoid “photo day mom stress” in my series on “How to Plan a Truly Great Family Photo session“). The reason I’m telling you all of this is because when photo day came around for Ashley and her family, she was as cool as a cucumber! 0093 Ashley and Mark were both so relaxed that the photo session started all on it’s own before we could even say go! Ashley, Mark, and Wyatt were just hanging out in the park playing together, so we decided we should start taking pictures of it! Now that’s what I call a natural kind of session! 0034 0083 The stuff we get of families just playing together all on their own, tends to turn out SO much better than when a mom is running this way and that, pulling her hair out, while trying to MAKE everyone look cute! It doesn’t make much sense when you think about it, because I mean really, how much help does this little guy actually need to look cute?! Besides, when left to his own devices, he’s a great little poser all on his own!

(He knew actual poses too so he showed us some of the yoga moves he knows!)

Sure he may not look PERFECT in all the photos… …but there’s something so beautiful about that because it’s just him being him! Which is better, remembering him as he really is, or remembering a stranger who’s personality was stripped out of the photos in your attempt to make him look “perfect”?! Yes, we vote to see Wyatt as he really is because who could resist?! So three cheers for Ashley and Mark, who chose to let their child enjoy a fun picture day with his parents, rather than trying to constrain him and force him into fake smile world… which just ends in tears anyways! Good job guys, you made the right choice and have the pictures to prove it!