How to boost your child's self esteem
Boosting Self Esteem
Did you know that displaying images of your children at home can increase their self esteem and well-being?
“When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.”
Judy Weiser, Psychologist.
Show how much you love them
In this digital age, with social media taking up a large part of our children's lives there's a tendency forget the importance of printing family photos. I have a teenage daughter and I can tell you that a 5 minute scroll through her Instagram feed does worry me. As a photographer, I want to use images in a positive way - to promote happiness and security, not insecurity.
When I take photos of her with her family and friends and put them on the walls, in a photo book or in our annual family calendar, images take on a magical quality. They become a prompt to all of us to remember the fantastic times we've had a family. The images of her walking with her brother, hugging him or laughing with him make us all feel wonderful. Family selfies whilst out on a walk let us remember the day we had (and how we all have to bend down so my son's head is not cut off). The family images give my kids a sense of belonging, a secure feeling of knowing that they are loved.
A family bond
We had our own family photo shoot a couple of years ago (and I have another one planned soon too!) and we have the images all over the house. We have a multi-aperture frame in hall, which I look at every day. I have pictures in my office and the kids have them in their bedrooms too, along with other pictures that make them feel good about themselves. My daughter has images from a surf photo shoot with her friends on her wall and my son has some from his gymnastics competitions and ballet classes.
Building self esteem
As a photographer, exploring the psychology of displaying images is really interesting. I've been reading about it online and I've come across some interesting research.
Psychologist Dr David Krauss says, “My bias is very simple. I think family photographs should be on the wall. I am very conservative about self-esteem and I think placing a family photo someplace in the home where the child can see it every day without having to turn on a device or click around on a computer to find it really hits home for that child this sense of reassurance and comfort. They have a certainty about them and a protecting quality that nurtures a child. It let’s them know where they are in the pecking order and that they are loved and cared for.”
Get in the frame
I've been a family photographer for 13 years now and it's very common for parents to ask about a photo shoot for their kids but not be so keen to get in the images themselves. Anyone that has ever had a shoot with me will know that I actively encourage parents to get in the frame. There's always a million excuses - not having the right hair, clothes, make-up, wanting to lose a few pounds, but I try to explain that nothing is more important that existing in images with your children.
Dr Krauss also says, ”I think it's really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit. A photographer’s job is to make and create the image to look like a safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.”
The pure emotional connection with your kids becomes the only thing that you'll feel when looking back at the photos. Not your flyaway hair or double chin.
They will cherish the images when they are older
My kids are only 10 and 13, so not really old enough to look back on their childhood with nostalgia just yet, but they LOVE looking through old photo albums. A while back we had some friends over, friends that we met when we moved to Wales, through our local NCT group. I've been photographing my kids and their kids for the last 13 years and it was so lovely to look through all the memories together. Trips to the beach, potty training, BBQ's, days out, sleepovers - they are all documented and looking at the images increases our sense of belonging and well-being.
“Displaying photos prominently in the home sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced,“ says Cathy Lander-Goldberg a licensed clinical social worker and a professional photographer and director of Photo Explorations.
Print your photos
We all have images on our phones, in fact, my son always asks to look at my phone so he can scroll through images of past holidays, but having the images printed and displayed has a much bigger impact.
Dr. Krauss believes that images should be displayed around the home. "What it says to a child is, 'I'm important in this family,'"
I understand that in this day and age people like having digital copies of images. That is why I include digital images in all of my packages. But, I also encourage families to print and frame images from their family photo sessions. It could be a large photo wall, or a multi-aperture frame or a few smaller prints displayed around the house on window sills. The important thing is that you and your children see them every day. It will promote a feeling of togetherness and a family bond full of memories.
Get snapping and printing!
So, go off and increase the feel good factor in your families. Make your kids feel secure and loved. Display the images of your family that you have, instead of leaving them on your phone.
If you want to update your family photos - you can always book a family photo session with me!
Find out more about family shoots and have a look at my family portfolio.
Gem x
South Wales Photo Shoot
Happy New Year!! I hope you all had an amazing time over the festive period. This South Wales photo shoot had to be kept secret before Christmas but now it's all out in the open I can share it with you!
I met this lovely family last year on a sunny Autumnal day back in September. The day was crisp and bright with plenty of blue skies. Their little one is super cute. We had a lovely walk around the coast, finishing with a trip to the beach.
If you have a little one that isn't walking yet, don't worry, there's still plenty of opportunities for great photos on an outdoor photo shoot like this one. Make the most of being able to throw them in air and give them big squishy hugs!
If you want to see more of my family photography work - have a look at my family portfolio. There's lots of great locations all over Cardiff & South Wales for family photo shoots - find out more about great locations in my location photo shoot blog post!
See more of my latest work by following me on Facebook and Instagram!
Get a date booked for your 2019 shoot! Drop me a line for more info. Gem x
South Wales Sunset Beach Photo Shoot
I adore the beach and the ocean and so a family photo shoot at Dunraven Bay in South Wales at sunset is pretty perfect! It's where I had my own family photo session a couple of years ago and where I've spent many a day sitting on the rocks or playing in the sea with my kids. I absolutely love the dramatic cliffs, the rocky walk down to the beach and the gorgeous cove shape of Dunraven Bay (or Southerndown as we call it!). It's a photographers dream.
I have to say, this is one of my favourite photo sessions of all time. When you have a beautiful Mum and 5, yes, 5, stunning children it's a win win situation. She literally looks like a mermaid. Honestly. The tide was high when we headed down to the beach and there was no sand to be seen. So, we clambered over the rocks to find a good spot to take some photos. The kids were jumping up, under and over the rocks like little mountain goats. I was still nursing my semi-broken toe from a previous shoot, so did my best to hobble after them all!
The sun was starting to set, so the pictures have the most beautiful golden glow (note to potential clients - book a shoot at golden hour!) and the beach was starting to empty out so we had it mostly to ourselves.
I wanted to capture some authentic natural images for this family. I wanted hair flying, wet clothes and big grins. There's something so joyful and magical about this set of images I've had to include nearly 100 of them to share with you - not even half of the images from the shoot but it was so hard to whittle them down.
If you'd like your family essence captured in an honest and relaxed way. Get in touch for a chat about a location photo session. You can find out more about my packages on my pricing page, or drop me a line with any questions.
In the meantime, take a look at these beauties.
Gem x
Pop-up photo sessions in Cowbridge with Gemma Griffiths Photography
Well, my pop-up mini photo sessions are going down a storm at the moment and I've just announced a new date for June! The pop-up sessions are 10 minute, free photo shoots for your little ones. There's no tricks up my sleeve, so secret sales technique, you can buy one image, three images or ten images, whatever you fancy. There's no surprise price list, in fact the price list is very simple - it's £12 for a 5"x7" print and £15 for a 10"x7" print. If you want digital files they are also available at £15 each. Simples!
As they are only 10 minutes long the sessions are only suitable for 1 or 2 children at a time, or child and Mummy or Daddy, so we can't squeeze a whole family shoot into one slot. The slots are also booked back to back so if your little one arrives and decides that they aren't in the mood for photos then I can just add you onto the list for the next pop-up session instead. (Note: chocolate buttons are a good blackmail technique. Just saying). There will be one more pop-up session in June and possibly one in July and then that's it for the time being. Keep your eyes peeled on my Facebook page for new events.
A lot of my pop-up clients are repeat customers that have already had a full family shoot or nursery shoots with me in the past and are updating their images. If you'd like a family photo shoot and don't want the constraints of a 10 minute pop-up then I offer lovely family shoots out and about around the Vale. There's no time limit to them and we get the choice of different locations, outfits and loads of variety in terms of family groups, siblings together, individual portraits etc. You can see more from my family shoots on my family portfolio page.
In the meantime, I wanted to share this gorgeous set of images from a recent pop-up session at Llanblethian Baby & Toddler Group, just outside Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. These images were taken in a 10 minute time slot with two beautiful sisters. There's only half the set featured here, so there were plenty to choose from!
If you're interested in my pop-up sessions or would like to book a full family shoot, please get in touch for a chat.
Gem x
