Montag family | Franklin child photographer

I met up with this fab family of 5 last week on a beautiful morning in Franklin.  This time of year, I try to shoot early or late in the day (unless I'm in the studio) because it is just so miserably hot. Kids (and let's be honest-- the dads) don't love being out in the heat for a long shoot.  8:30am is definitely doable, though.  There were lots of smiles and laughs at our shoot... and maybe a few marshmallows.  Kuddos to mama on packing a quick, non-messy reward between set-ups.  The kids responded really well to it!  Little sister is 20 months old, and she stayed glued to her designated spot because she knew that she'd get a marshmallow if she did.  Friends, I am here to tell you that it is just about impossible to get a 1.5 year old to stay in one place.  That little treat just worked a little magic for her.  Clients often bring along a small snack just in case someone gets hungry.  The key is to keeping it small (like one piece handed out at a time, not the whole snack trap), making it a conditional reward based on good listening, and something that isn't messy.Back to the shoot, though, this first photo just steals the show for me.  I am slightly obsessed with mama + baby snuggly moments.