Family Pictures: Worried about your kids not cooperating?

Don’t be.

Here’s a few reasons why you don’t need to worry about whether or not your kids will behave well enough for a photoshoot:

They won’t.

Seriously. You know it. I know it. So let’s not pretend that when you arrive for your family portrait session, we expect your young children (or sometimes your older kids/tweens/teens!) to act like perfect little angels.

Some kids come in and are excited to get their pictures taken, and love to model for me. That’s so great! And I love when my job is easy. But, getting a camera shoved in your face by a stranger can be a little scary for kids. Or maybe they missed a nap, need food, or are just not feeling it that day.

That’s okay!

I promise.

Give your kids some grace on family photography day. And go ahead and give yourself some too. I am not judging you on how well your kids behave (or don’t behave). As one parent to another, we’ve all had those days. I know how it is when you just want to get a nice picture with everyone smiling in front of the camera and nothing you’re doing is working. But, more than likely, we can get there!

Even if the session doesn’t start out great, that doesn’t mean we can’t turn it around!

Here’s a few things we can do to help get those cute smiles to come out:

• Give them time to warm up

Maybe your child is reserved or a little shy- that was me growing up too! So I know that a little extra time, gentle prompts, and just giving your little one some space to see what this is all about is the best thing to do. Little one doesn’t want to be in any pictures? Let’s let them play off to the side for a few minutes, when they see the fun, it can make them want to join in too.

• Let them burn off some excess energy

Are your kids hyper and crazy? That’s okay! Action shots are awesome- maybe a game of tag or a little race, a tickle fight or a jumping contest is the ticket! Let your kids play, and better yet, join them! Kids get so happy when their parents just play with them. And after a little runaround, they’re more likely to be able to sit still for a few traditional poses too.

• Schedule around naps and bedtime

You might have heard that sunset gives the best light for pictures, and it can be- Golden Hour is beautiful. But, it’s not as beautiful if your kids are too close to bedtime, or skipped a nap to get there on time, and are exhausted and cranky. If Golden Hour doesn’t work for you, I’m happy to work around the best time for you. We can work with harsh light a lot easier than fighting a sleepy kiddo who just isn’t ready for pictures.

• Feed them ahead of time

Don’t let the kids get hangry! You might plan on going out to eat after your pictures to avoid the messy spills and faces full of crumbs, but be sure that they’ve had enough to eat beforehand. It can be a good idea to bring a few non-messy snacks along too, just in case a case of the hangries hits. This goes for parents, too! It’s a lot easier to keep your cool when you’re not thinking about just being done to get to your next meal.

• Bring a comfort or novelty item

If your little one has a favorite stuffed toy or lovey, bring it along! Just make sure that’s it’s washed and clean, because more than likely, it will end up in a few pictures. Sometimes having a familiar item helps little kids feel a little more confident and comfortable- and we could all use a boost of confidence! On the flip side, bringing out a new item might help your child open up and be curious. Cute wooden or retro toys can add an adorable look to your pictures, and what better way to remember the early years than by seeing them play?

• Prepare early

The moments before you even get in the car can really set the tone for your session. Make sure outfits are picked out and ready to go the day before- no last-minute washing or ironing (or if you’re like me, throwing the clothes in the dryer on the touch-up setting). The more relaxed you are, the easier the kids will be.

If there’s something you think can help, go ahead and bring it! Sometimes those items will stay in the car, and sometimes they’ll be our saving grace.

Enjoy this little slideshow at the bottom where at least one child in each picture did NOT want their picture taken- and yes, that includes one of my own little guy!

All of these young people were amazing to work with- getting them to smile is just part of the fun!

If you would like fun, beautiful family portraits, send us a message! I can’t promise rainbows and sunshine, but we’ll do our best, and your kids will do their best too.

Thanks for reading!

~Carissa