Featured Event Pro Ahna Tessler: NYC Family Photographer
Ahna Tessler is a NYC family photographer. She’s a mother of four-year-old twins, has a background in comedy and screenwriting, and a true gift for capturing the beauty, humor and grit of family life.
Ahna kindly shared some helpful tips for planning a family photo session, which is why I’m so excited to introduce you to her!
What common mistakes do you see parents making when picking a family photographer?
My answer really has to do with taste because I am not a fan of the “staged-80’s-painted on smile-portrait.” I don’t think it represents who that family is. Families have evolved, and often I see that family photos haven’t.
We are a culture who is so much freer to express our individuality than ever before, so why not capture that in a photo?
What’s the best tip you have for parents planning a family photo session?
My tip is to simply be you! I always tell my families to wear something you feel beautiful in, but don’t overdo it into black-tie land.
And because I am a documentary photographer, I always tell my families not to clean their house too much. Wait on eating, getting your kids ready, doing the dishes, etc. until I come over!
I love capturing people in their real element. That way, when they look back on a photo 30 years from now, they can say, “I remember that crib, that toy, that costume, my cat and that was the day I tried to dress my cat in my princess dress!”
Their memory of that time will be much sharper than it would be if they were sitting in some studio against some drab backdrop.
And how cool is it to simply get a glimpse inside the reality of your family life?
Do you have any other tips or suggestions you’d like to add?
PRINT OUT YOUR PHOTOS!! We live in a day in age where we take thousands of photos on our phones and fill our computers and phones to capacity.
But these images end up in this virtual purgatory and are rarely seen again. What’s going to happen in 100 years when our great grandchildren want to see photos of their ancestors?
Will they have our 100-year-old computers to look at like we have photo albums from way back when? Nope.
So, I would say, print print print because what’s that thing that people always say they’d take with them if ever there were a fire? Your photos.
What’s the best way to get in touch with you?
Parents can reach me on my website at www.ahnatesslerphotography.com