Family photo sessions with children don’t have to be stressful! Keep reading for some of my favorite tips on preparing for your session.
Family photo sessions can be a very stressful situation. I know! I have twin boys and remember some of our sessions through the years when I was pleading with them to be good, smile for the camera and please behave. It was a train wreck and made the whole family tense. That’s when I realized there has to be a better way. What if these sessions can be fun? Enjoyable?
Your family session can be relaxed, fun and a place where you make beautiful memories! That is why I have embraced the playful family session and capturing the joy + love that naturally comes from family connections. No stiff, posed images here! Your session includes a custom Spotify playlist, games and prompts to set the mood and get everyone involved.
Here are a few of my tips that I want to share with you to help you get in the right mindset before the session begins.
1. Don’t expect your children to behave. The true essence of childhood includes many different sides and I want to capture the smiles, mischief, and the intensity of your children. I know you have made a big investment in these images and you want really beautiful family photos, but it will not happen if you on them to behave. It is my job to engage with your children through games and prompts and draw them in the session.
2. Don’t ask your children to smile. Children are not fond of being told to smile. Especially by their parents. And when you get a smile it will be tense and forced. That is why I use the playful family session method to achieve genuine expressions, smiles, and laughter. It takes time for them to warm up to me and my camera but by the end of the session everyone is laughing and enjoying themselves
3. Relax and enjoy yourself! The kids will pick up on your mood and magnify it. I have seen stressed parents create stressed kids time and time again. The best photo sessions are the families where the parents are relaxed and just want some time to connect with their children. Let your children be themselves and focus on connecting with them just as you would at home. They will relax and have natural expressions!
You now have the powerful tools to create a proper mindset with the kids at your next family session. You can now look forward to a relaxed and enjoyable family session where your only responsibility is to have fun and enjoy this sweet time with your babies!
Shelly Niehaus Photography is a Prosper, TX-based senior and family photographer. I specialize in newborns, seniors, family, and school portrait photography in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I also offer adoption photography for local families through the Red Thread Organization and volunteer for The Gold Hope Project. For more information please contact me so we can start discussing your session.
