05/16/2026
If you’re coming into a family session hoping your kids will stand still, smile on command, and cooperate the whole time…
I’m just going to gently reset that expectation right now.
That’s not where the good photos come from anyway.
If you want your session to feel easy (and your photos to actually feel like your family), here’s what helps:
Match your kids’ energy instead of trying to control it.
If they’re playful, we lean into that. If they’re shy, we slow things down. Forcing it almost always backfires.
Let go of the idea that everything needs to go perfectly.
Some of my favorite images come from the “in between” moments—when things are a little messy, a little chaotic, and very real.
Encourage movement.
Walk, swing them, tickle them, explore. Standing still and saying “smile” is the fastest way to make everyone uncomfortable.
Give yourself buffer time.
Getting there early makes a huge difference. You’ll feel calmer, your kids will feel it, and we won’t be rushing into anything.
And please don’t stress about behavior.
I don’t expect your kids to be perfect. I just need them to be themselves.
At the end of the day, you’re not going to love these photos because everyone was perfectly posed.
You’re going to love them because they feel like your life right now, that’s the part worth remembering. ❤️
