a little time for each…
Take a little walk tonight as a family. This time, walk slowly and just be together.
For a few minutes pull each of your children to the side [and a little time for your spouse]. Walk side by side. Find leaves, rocks, bugs…snow [for some of you]…and just talk. You and one of your children. Just the two of you. Every one of our children crave our individual, one on one, no distractions [ie: other kids, phones]. Only you. That’s all they want.
Some questions you may want to ask to start a discussion:
What’s your favorite thing that happened today?
What do you wish wouldn’t have happened today?
What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
What’s your favorite color?
When do you feel like I love you?
What do you like about our family?
If could change one thing about our family, what would it be?
Of course, these are only starts to a conversation. They’re not intended to be questions that you fire off one after another. Just a chance to get started on a much deeper level of listening and really hearing your child or spouse.
Hearing the good with the bad helps me to know my family better. I love getting to hear the ups and downs of each person in my home.
Happy walking!
xoxo,
Davina
[what questions do you ask the people you love the most when you really want to hear about their inside stuff?]
These images are so wonderful, so much more meaningful than the stop and smile at the camera (which is what I have clients do most of the time). How do you do it? Do you direct them in any way?
Rebecca, for me the most important thing it to allow my clients to do what feels really natural to them. I try to get to know them using my questionnaire (if you click on the photographer button in the sidebar to the right you can read more about it) where they tell me what they like to do as a family. From there I like to chat with the family and plan together ideas that would make a fun shoot for them. I try to say things that help them to experience real feelings that they already have for one another so that the moments they have together are real moments. Thanks so much for your kind comments.
Yes, your questionnaire[s] are on my wishlist. One of these days. . . Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. I really appreciate it. You’re a good soul.
You’re welcome, Rebecca! Have a lovely holiday!