What happens during a photo session with Lea Jones, Boston Family Photographer?

Booking a photo session is rather nerve wrecking. Very few people enjoy being in front of the camera. I am sure you are nervous and I just wanted to write quick blog post to calm your nerves and show you that it really isn’t that hard and that things will flow smoothly. I got you!

I have been doing photo sessions in the greater Boston area for quite a few years and although every family is different I always use the same workflow, more or less:


I start with chatting and making everyone feel at ease. If you feel comfortable with me, I know I will be able to get the most natural and happy smiles and interactions.

1. Once everyone is happy and comfortable, I start with the simple straight on portrait, everyone standing looking at the camera. I want to make sure I get at least one beautiful simple portrait of the whole family looking at the camera and smiling. I know Grandma will want to frame that one, and I make sure I get that one in the beginning of our time together.

After the simple portrait I start to create interaction and will ask to talk to each other, tell jokes, relax…..these photos will not be looking at the camera but at each other, I might ask you to hold hands and walk while talking to each other, or to tickle the youngest family member.

2. Next important photos I want to get are a portrait of just the children together without the parents. All looking at the camera and then interacting, laughing and smiling. I may make some jokes for the kids and ask daddy to act silly behind me.

…and to be honest I don’t think I got that image with Jennifer and her family and I know she won’t mind me sharing that her little one was not into the session, but you know what? that’s real life and it happens, I still got a gorgeous set of images to deliver to Jennifer. If a set up or a pose is not working well, I just move to my next pose or idea, no big deal, I am used to it.

3. I will then move to create a simple beautiful portrait of each child.

4. Then each child with each parent

5. By then the kids usually need a break and I take photos of just mom & dad. It allows for the kids to chill a little bit and mom and dad usually don’t have very many photos of just the two them together.

6. And finally I will do more family photos, it might be sitting down and interacting, just having fun and following the lead of your family, this is when your family’s personality is particularly show cased.


Léa is a Boston area family photographer

who loves to create magic with her camera. Her photography is simple and genuine. Her down to earth approach will put your at ease in the first few minutes of the session. Léa will help you to relax so that she can bring out those sweet and authentic moments. Léa established her photography business in 2016, and has been working with families in the Boston area since then. She is a published photographer, who frequently travels to Europe and particularly France where she originally comes from.