Worried Your Kids Won't Cooperate for Family Photos?
If I had a dollar for every time a parent told me their kids were going to be "the worst", I'd probably have retired by now.
Honestly, it's one of the most common things I hear before a session.
Not what to wear.
Not where we're meeting.
Not whether it's going to rain.
It's usually:
"My kids won't sit still."
Or
"My husband hates having his photo taken."
Or
"We're an absolute disaster, good luck!"
The funny thing is, almost every family says it.
Let me tell you a secret
I'm not expecting perfection.
I don't expect children to stand still, smile on command and look directly at the camera for an hour.
That sounds exhausting for everyone.
Kids are meant to be curious. They're meant to run, explore, cuddle their parents, pull silly faces and sometimes decide they'd rather do literally anything else than have their photo taken.
That's normal.
In fact, some of my favourite photos come from those moments.
The best photos usually aren't the planned ones
When parents book a family session, they often imagine one perfect photo where everyone is smiling at the camera.
And we'll absolutely try for those.
But the photos families fall in love with are often the ones they weren't expecting.
The cuddle when someone's feeling shy.
The belly laughs between siblings.
The way your little one reaches for your hand.
The look your partner gives the kids when they do something ridiculous.
Those little moments tell your family's story far better than a perfectly posed picture ever could.
Please don't stress about behaviour
If your child has a moment during the session, that's okay.
If they're shy, that's okay.
If they're full of energy, that's okay too.
I've photographed enough families to know that children are children.
There's no need to spend the whole drive telling them they have to smile nicely or behave perfectly.
The more relaxed everyone feels, the better the session usually goes.
Wear something that feels like you
You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
You don't need matching white shirts.
And you definitely don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on outfits.
Choose colours that work well together, keep things comfortable and wear something you feel good in.
If you're comfortable, it shows.
If you're uncomfortable, that shows too.
Trust me, you're probably doing better than you think
During almost every session, there's a point where a parent looks at me and says,
"I don't think we're getting anything good."
Then they receive their gallery and can't choose their favourites.
What feels chaotic in the moment often looks completely different through my camera.
While you're worrying about whether the kids are cooperating, I'm busy looking for the moments you'll actually want to remember.
The only job you have
Show up.
Take a deep breath.
Spend some time with the people you love.
Leave the rest to me.
You don't need a perfect family to create beautiful photos.
You just need to be yourselves.
Thinking about booking family photos?
If you've been putting it off because you're worried the kids won't cooperate, you're definitely not alone.
I'd love to help make the experience relaxed and enjoyable for everyone.
