Never as Planned

I had an amazing time on Monday morning at Lake Eva Park in Haines City doing a family and smash cake session. Initially, we had planned for Sunday afternoon, unfortunately, we live in Florida so the afternoon stormes was a game-changer. The Perez family has been understanding and such amazing clients to work with. Since the day she had contacted my company from Google, we have been texting back and forth going over ideas that she had imagined for her son’s first birthday Cake Smash Session. This Session took several weeks to organize with finding all the props, outfits, ordering the cake, etc. We both worked so hard together to achieve this certain image that she had in mind. When the day finally came on Sunday to do the Session I arrived at the location 30 min before the scheduled time so that I could scope out the best spots as well as start setting up. Within my time there it had started pouring so hard and lightning. For everyone in Florida, you know my struggles lol. I had contacted Mrs. Perez, so we had both agreed to try again the following morning but much earlier this time.

Monday morning when I had arrived again 30 min. Before our scheduled time, I had started setting everything up before their arrival. Now since the afternoon before I had the challenge of keeping the cake as well as the balloons looking fresh. Everything looked great but I am sad to announce the balloons did not make it through this. It was too early to replace them due to the fact none of the stores were open. So I made the best of it. 

Eric, this adorable full of life and energy little guy arrived with his family right on time. From the moment that they arrived this little guy had a different image on how his First Birthday Session was going to go. He was so curious about everything, he never wanted to stop running around and had to check out everything in his environment. In my 20 plus years of doing photography,  I have learned a long time ago that what you think you are planning won’t always work out to what you will get. You can’t force your little person to do what you want them to do all the time, if you try you are just going to capture a bunch of crying images and very frustrated clients as well as a photographer. This will end up a very stressful and not so good experience for both your clients and yourself.

After a  few minutes allowing Eric to run and play around his way, I was able to capture some amazing natural images of him as well as with his family. Toddlers have a very low attention span and they will get bored quickly. I had to take my shots fast as well as always be ready for that perfect moment. He was not interested in the props or the set up that I had for him. Instead, he wanted to play in the sand so I compromised with him. I set up some of my items around him for that nautical effect, then I was finally able to get some pretty cool shots oh him. Now a few minutes had passed he was getting tired however, we still had the smash cake session.  While they cleaned up Eric a little and I was able to set up for the smash cake session. When I was ready for him Eric ran over to my setup at first all excited and curious until he touched the cake. That moment we all learned he does not like his hands dirty with frosting. His parents tried to let him taste it in hopes that he would change his mind. Let’s just say that did not work..lol

Eric decided that he wanted to finish up his session by taking a dip in the lake while washing off the remaining frosting. He is without a doubt a water baby, although it was not what my clients had planned initially we were able too to capture many amazing images. Just know as either a new parent or photographer, everything will not go as planned. That is when you have to relax, be patient, and just go with the flow and have fun. 

Life is crazy sometimes your best work is not what you plan for or imagine it to be, but comes out with an amazing result that you couldn’t even imagine.