As an overwhelmed working mother of three young children, I constantly remind myself to slow down and enjoy my family. It seems as if the days drag on, but the years fly by. As much as I can’t stand the constant tantrums, sleepless nights, and giant messes, I often want to freeze time and keep them little forever.
So, I was ecstatic when Nataliya Lalor, the professional children’s portrait photographer of N. Lalor Photography, offered to photograph my family with a mix of posed and candid lifestyle images that we will treasure for years to come.
Nataliya’s photographs are simple, carefree, and timeless. She wants to make it easy for moms to have beautiful images of their children as they grow. And when I say easy, I mean easy! She immediately sent a Welcome Guide to answer any questions I might have, along with a Family Questionnaire, which allowed her to get to know my family a bit before we met.
In preparation for our photo session, Nataliya came to our home about a week prior for a wardrobe consultation. Yes, she came to my house and picked out our clothes! I know this might not be for everyone, but I loved it! She went through our closets and put together coordinating outfits for the entire family. She ensured the clothing would withstand time, mixing different patterns and solid colors.
If it weren’t for her, I would have worn white pants (making me look 10+ pounds heavier) and a brightly colored top (very in style now – I think…) that would have dated the pictures in years to come. She also shared some of her products, specifically her Portrait Collection, which is stunning!
In the days leading up to our photo session, Nataliya sent me helpful information to prepare myself and my family. She also included a timed outline of what she expected to take place on the day of our session, making it very clear that things typically get adjusted as the session moves along to accommodate the children’s needs (and mood!).
Nataliya explained that her sons are extremely strong-willed and have taught her great patience and how to compromise (which is handy with toddlers!). She truly understands that kids have mood swings, and she never expects perfect behavior during a session (thank God!). Most of all, she loves being able to play with the kids she photographs and getting to know the family on a personal level.
When the day finally arrived, Nataliya’s goal was for us to have fun and enjoy the experience. Her objective was to get beautiful photos of my children and the family together and for me to feel beautiful and confident in front of the camera. We started outdoors in my backyard, and of course, getting all five of us to pose for portraits was incredibly difficult.
Nataliya encouraged my husband and I to loosen up and let the kids be themselves. We allowed them to run around and play on the swings (which led to some amazing shots). We also walked down our dead end street literally stopping to smell the flowers.
Then, we went back inside for indoor studio portraits with a seamless backdrop. My kids had the most fun with this since the backdrop made funny noises as they jumped around. She also took lifestyle portraits in our kitchen and living room, capturing our authentic daily interactions as a family. Nataliya gave us some posing directions and ensured everyone looked their best in the final photographs. She even compared capturing the perfect shot to hunting wild animals (my kids never stop moving!).
All in all, my experience with N. Lalor Photography was amazing and the finished photos speak for themselves. I can’t thank Nataliya enough for her patience, skill, and attention to detail in capturing my family and essentially freezing time. Something that I will treasure forever.
