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Do's
 
Don't's
Do tell everybody someone is coming by to have some fun and take their picture out on the beach.
  Don't let grandpa answer the door in his underwear with a shotgun because “nobody tole me!”
Do let the kids know these are fun pictures, not school pictures (or mug shots for the criminally inclined).
   Don't threaten the kids - we’ve seen some so scared they start crying when the doorbell rings - we don’t need that kind of business or people.
Do feed the kids a nice LOW SUGAR snack or meal before they get dressed for the shoot.
   Don't give them cherry kool-aid after they put on their only white shirt, or give them so much sugar you see the whites of their eyes and they just sit and vibrate!
Do offer a long term reward, if you want to offer one at all. Some kids do well with a long term reward like “ if we do good at this for a while we can go to the pool later today” - sort of like the corporate Christmas bonus that keeps you working all year!
  Don't use quick bribery - “ One more smile and you get a face full of pixie sticks”- if they don’t get it, the kid goes off, if they do they will be a mess if we need more shots – that and it usually doesn't work.
Do put on a little sunscreen and work it in well, enough in advance that you don’t shine so much in your beach photos.
   Don't put on so much sunscreen that sand sticks to you or enough that you slide down the dune and into the water when you sit down.
Do bring a little clear (or amber) cool drinks, and maybe a couple cool damp cloths in a baggie in case it’s hot out there and the ladies might bring a brush, too.
  Don't pack for the Amazon - your car or house, is right there - no canned meats, powdered eggs, or water filtration kits will be needed. We promise.
Do be flexible - yes, there is a breeze, and there are other people, but we’ll do our best to minimize all that - remember it is a public beach.
  Don't scream at strangers, rip down cabanas, or curse the weather gods. It could all come back to haunt you, and us.
Do try to get everybody ready at the same time - we knows it’s hard, but give it a shot. We do the big group early, then when we finish each family, they are off duty!
   Don't expect to do one family at a time and then the group. By that time the first kids have already gone to snoozerville, or fussyland, or Dad went for coffee….(it’s all happened more than once).
Do respect our beaches - it’s one of the best, we love it like it is (or was) so take only pictures, leave only foot prints.
   Don't rip up the sea oats, leave your trash, talk bad about our home, or get the Life Guards drunk - it might be funny, but what if we really need them?
Do relax! Family pictures are all about love and enjoying the crazy, funny, unique characters we all are. If you love your family you’ll love your pictures; cross-eyed, rabbit-eared and all. So relax, enjoy, and let’s have a good time!
   Don't stress out, over coach, be afraid, be ashamed, nit-pick, lose sleep over, fret about, medicate, brain wash, or attempt to trade in your family. They may not be the Brady Bunch but you’ve gotta love’em!