MY ACCOUNT
Checkout
Courses + Products
SHOP

Education

The Parent Portrait

Ask Anything

filed in:

Have you heard me say that “Micro Changes produce Macro Results”? Well it’s one of my favorite phrases in business because it continually proves itself to be true in our business. I’m about to share one Micro Change that we made during family portraits that has made a big impact on our wedding days! Now I know that no photographer LOVES family formals but we actually view this part of the day as one of the most “value adding” opportunities we have throughout the entire experience!

When you think about it, normally, this part of the day is the only time that photographers interact directly with the parents for an extended period of time. Normally the parents are who have invested in the photography and so this is a VERY important interaction!!!

Our goal on the wedding day is to love and serve everyone well. We especially want to make sure we take care of the parents of our couple!! When you think about it, parents aren’t normally celebrated very often at weddings because all of the focus is on the couple. The parents are often the ones who paid for the day and who helped mold and shape their son or daughter into who they are and I think they deserve to be recognized for that. The mother of the bride is often one of the main planners of the day and yet she doesn’t even get a SPECIAL DANCE!! Parents should be celebrated and I often wish we had done more to celebrate our parents and their marriages on our wedding day.

I realize that there are a lot of broken marriages at weddings as well. We see so many parents who are divorced or separated and I know that that is very common and we try to be very sensitive to those situations. However, whenever there are ANY couples who are together and present at family formals, we try to take a portrait of JUST the two of them!! No bride, no groom, just their parents! This could be step parents, parents, significant others …. if it’s obvious that they are together, we try our best to give them a portrait of their own! We normally say something like “It’s not every day that you two get this dressed up!! You need a portrait!” I would say 9 times out of 10, the parents are surprised and taken back by the attention being directed towards them for a second!! They normally thank us and say “Well I didn’t think WE were going to get a portrait!!! Thank you!” This is probably the easiest way to love and serve the parents of your couples!!

So next time you’re photographing a wedding, take 10 seconds and love on the parents and give them a “Parent Portrait”!! It will make their day!!!!

learn how to shoot details_0367

View other Ask Anything Posts!

Learn how to capture genuine laughter!

Master One Classic Groom Portrait Pose!

Shoot the big picture, wide angle shots like a pro!

Thanks for reading!

— Katelyn

Free Posing Class

Free Posing Class The KJ Way

Your sessions should be working FOR you not against you!

READ MORE
Education

Welcome to your Lightroom Classic Starter Guide video!

Lightroom Classic Beginner Guide
READ MORE

Lightroom Classic Starter Guide Everything You Need to Get Started!

Youtube
5 Essentials to Turn Pro

5 Essentials Beginners Need to Go Pro and make your photography business a success!

I’m breaking down the MUST-HAVE ITEMS that every photographer needs to be successful at the start of their career! 

READ MORE
Youtube

Danny + Megan A Biltmore Estate Wedding

Oh where do I begin? This wasn’t just another wedding for me. This was a legacy KJ Wedding and I have been looking forward to it ever since my first email from Danny and Megan!

READ MORE
Weddings

I’m really excited about this YouTube video because I know that it resonates with ALL photographers who photograph PEOPLE!!

10 posing red flags
READ MORE

10 Red Flags in Posing And how to fix them!

Youtube
How to Serve a Client Who Isn't a Perfect Fit

Ep. 33 | How to Serve a Client Who Isn’t a Perfect Fit And make it a great experience

Have you ever walked into a client experience and realized “oh wow, this is not what I was expecting?” ….

READ MORE
The Katelyn James Podcast

READER FAVORITES

"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”

- Kara Abbey, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”

- Shannon Drummond, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”

- Kate gansneder, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”

- Angie mcpherson, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”

- Brittany Lowe, ALl ACCESS MEMBER

"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"

- Joanna Krueger, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER
10 Steps to Starting Your Photography Business
Helping a friend survive a season of Infant Loss
How to photograph a first look in Harsh Light
OUR KJ COUPLES REUNION
A Lake Como Destination Wedding - Greg and Kate
A Letter to the Go-Getters fearful of Motherhood

The KJ blog
must-reads

The KJ Blog is where you get to know me, where you meet our KJ Couples and see their beautiful wedding days, where I have been building an archive of education for over a decade and where I let you see a peek into our life, our home, and hear about our purpose! 
don't miss the
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ

YOUTUBE

Join 93,000+ others and learn, grow and get connected via our Youtube Channel! This is where I'm constantly sharing new content, talking all things gear, business, tips, tricks and letting you into the behind-the-scenes of our everyday life! 
MORE FREE EDUCATION + CUTE BABIES ON
WATCH NOW

"I have invested in all of KJ’s education!

The way she teaches makes so much sense and I’m so grateful for her! My business will be forever changed!"

- Renee Nicolo

"KJ education has been life-changing

 It has elevated my work so I could quit my day job and work from home with our baby boy!"

- joanna k.

"I'VE INVESTED IN SO MANY RESOURCES... 

and none compare to what I get from KJ!"

- LAUREN M.