Emily Murdock Photography

Dallas is bloomin’ 🌸 and senior sessions are filling up my days! Here’s a tiny sneak peek for one of my favorites, Hailey! It’s always a big honor to be invited to capture this time of life, and even more fun when it’s someone I’ve been photographing for years! Lots of love for the Cramer family. 🩷
Hailey is so grounded and her energy is incredibly loving and calm. It was so great to walk around and enjoy the beautiful spring plants and warm weather. What a privilege to have such a beautiful place to photograph such a phenomenal girl!
🩷

Dallas Senior Photographer
Dallas Senior Photography
Dallas Arboretum
DFW Senior Photographer
DFW Senior Photography

When you’re this cute, the photo session becomes alllllll about you 💙

Honored to be your…
Dallas Family Photographer
Dallas Portrait Photographer
DFW Family Photographer
DFW Portrait Photographer

Loved our time at the Beverly Harris House in McKinney! 😍

Pentax 645nii
Kodak Portra 400
Scanned + developed by Photovision

Family Portraits ♾️ Family Heirlooms

Dallas Family Photographer
Dallas Portrait Photographer

There are a few available appointments for this Saturday at the Beverly-Harris House and I would LOVE to see you there!
First person to use code LUCKY will get $50 off their petite session at the Beverly-Harris House in McKinney this Saturday!

Remaining appointments :
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
3:30 pm

Book here : https://emilymurdockphotography.instaproofs.com/booking/session.php?id=d024e4da2caf

There are a few available appointments for this Saturday at the Beverly-Harris House and I would LOVE to see you there!

First person to use code LUCKY at booking will get $50 off their petite session at the Beverly-Harris House in McKinney this Saturday!

Remaining appointments :
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
3:30 pm

Book here : https://emilymurdockphotography.instaproofs.com/booking/session.php?id=d024e4da2caf

Some Highland babes in Texas 😍 One of our favorite parts of our trip to Scotland was learning more about “hairy coos” and seeing them on the farm we visited. These darlings are actually part of the herd at my dear friend’s ranch here in DFW. Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Looking forward to a beautiful fall season! 🍂

Today I’m addressing the question, Should we do a full session or a petite session?

I hear it all the time, some version of “My family would never want to do a full session, they won’t last that long.”

And I get it, it seems like a long to time to sit and smile 😊 But the truth is, many times a full session is the better option for your family. Here are some reasons why :

• A full session sounds like a long time, but it goes by quickly. I keep the atmosphere light and happy and a little silly. We will keep shooting until we feel like we have great shots! For some families that is a little over an hour. Some it’s closer to 90 minutes.

• We aren’t rushed and we don’t force things in a full session. A petite session can feel rushed because we are trying to maximize our time. The slower pace of a full session feels more comfortable to most people, in particular neurodivergent folks or younger kids who might need breaks during the session. In a full session, we can take those breaks and make sure everyone is feeling good 😊

• Many families have kids (and adults!) who need a little bit of time to warm up to the camera. Often with petite sessions, that happens just as we have to end our session. Petite sessions are stacked with other clients before and after your session, and so the timing has to be strict.

• I find that when a parent thinks a specific kid won’t last for a full session, they’re often the one having a blast and enjoying themselves when things don’t feel so stressful and rushed! Finally, family pictures feel fun and easy!

• Don’t we all want an experience where we have time to breathe, time to relax and get comfortable with the situation, and feel like the images are going to be even better because everyone feels comfortable enough to give their real smiles and interact in natural ways?

You’ll make the right choice for your family, and I’m excited to work with you for a full session or a petite session this fall 😉

Have you had a full session that worked well for your family? Do you usually do a full session or a petite session? Why? I’d love to hear your experience!

Ok what is happening in the cosmos

Just this week, my computer is circling the drain, my steamer stopped working, the giant shelves I attempted to put up in my bathroom were a fail, my website has been having issues that keep domino-ing when they try to fix it, and my anxiety is at an all-time high

I would like to catch a new vibe train pls

When things seem to all be going wrong at once, how do you rewire?

My own family is silly, sarcastic, funny and upbeat with a dash of ADHD and a pinch of autism, so I know I could never hire a family photographer that was too serious or that didn’t have experience working with special needs kids. One thing I know for sure - finding a photographer who will understand your family and flow with the vibe of your people is one of the most important things you can do when considering a family session. But how do you do that? I’ve got some ideas in this post!

Here are some additional tips to consider when looking for a photographer.

✔️ Read their words on social media captions and on their website. Does it feel familiar? Do they seem like the kind of friend you’d want to have? Will they be supportive and helpful to you through the process?

✔️ Consider “meeting” them before you commit. A zoom call or a coffee date is actually a great idea so that you can know if they’ll be a good fit for your family.

✔️ Price should be a sifting feature but not the most important factor. Just because someone is charging the least doesn’t mean they are right for you!

✔️ Do they have contracts in place to protect you and them? (This might seem like overkill - I didn’t have contracts for years because I trusted people but I can see now that it was foolish of me. Contracts protect everyone involved!)

Over the years, I have been on the receiving end of some sad emails : people who booked with a photographer who cancelled on them last minute, or worse yet completely stood them up at session time. That could happen to anyone, of course, but my hope is that these tips will help you choose a photographer that is professional, trustworthy, *and* will create images that you love.

This is a quick guide. There’s always more to talk about!

Photographers : what did I miss?
Clients : what questions do you have?

No, it wasn’t all about the dogs.

Just kidding. It was totally all about the dogs 🐶♥️

This was a fun session on Coronado for my friend Mandalyn and her cute family. It was so hard to believe that we had only been online friends until the day of this session, because it felt like we have known each other forever!

Photo sessions mean even more when the location means something to you, and a walk at your favorite park can be the best way to make images that you’ll love! ♥️ Especially if your favorite park is across the bay from San Diego!! 😉

I’m a Dallas family photographer but my bags are always packed for adventure! ✈️📸