How to Prepare Kids for Family Photos
There was a season of motherhood where family photo days brought out a version of me I honestly wasn’t very proud of.
I wanted everything to be perfect.
I’d buy the carefully coordinated outfits. I’d try to plan every detail. I’d stress about naps, stains, shoes, hair, timing, all of it.
And inevitably, something would go sideways.
Someone would skip their nap.
A shirt would get dirty five minutes before we left.
The shoes I bought because they were “cute” suddenly hurt tiny feet that had never worn them before.
And then I’d spend the entire session trying to manage everyone.
Don’t get dirty.
Don’t run.
Smile nicely.
Please stop making that face.
Please don’t embarrass me.
By the end, everyone was stressed, including me.
And one day I realized something that completely changed the way I approached family photos:
I was asking my children to stop acting like themselves in order to deserve beautiful memories.
I was expecting them to wear clothes they didn’t like, stand still when their bodies wanted to move, and quietly perform for a camera.
And honestly? My family was never going to thrive in that environment because it simply wasn’t who we were.
That realization changed everything for me.
And eventually, it’s a huge part of why I became a family photographer...Because I knew there had to be a better way to photograph families.
The Best Family Photos Happen When Kids Are Allowed to Be Kids
This is the foundation of how I photograph families now. I don’t expect children to sit perfectly still and smile at the camera for an hour.
Honestly, most kids hate that. And I don’t blame them.
Kids are meant to:
- run
- wiggle
- laugh loudly
- explore
- make silly faces
- climb into your lap
- get distracted
- be fully themselves
That energy? That personality? That life?
That’s the part worth remembering.
If you’re looking for stiff, formal portraits where everyone looks perfectly posed like a Bridgerton family painting… I may not be the photographer for you.
But if you want to preserve this exact season: the chaos, the personality, the joy, the movement, the way your children actually are right now, then you’re exactly who I photograph for.
The Secret to Stress-Free Family Photos
The biggest shift I encourage parents to make is this: Stop treating family photos like a performance. The more pressure kids feel, the harder the session usually becomes.
Instead of:
“We’re going to a photoshoot tonight.”
try:
“We’re going to the beach tonight and a friend is meeting us there.”
That tiny shift changes everything.
Children respond so much better when the experience feels like play instead of pressure. And real talk? Adults do too.
Wear Clothes That Feel Like You
Of course I support fun new outfits if that’s something you genuinely enjoy. But I also encourage families to be realistic. If your child hates the outfit, it’s going to show. If the shoes hurt, it’s going to show.
If you feel uncomfortable or unlike yourself, your photos will reflect that too.
Comfort matters. Movement matters. Feeling like yourself matters.
That’s why I always guide families toward clothing that:
- feels natural
- photographs well in motion
- allows kids to play comfortably
- fits the energy of the session
Because connection photographs far better than perfection ever will.
Why I Carefully Choose Family Photo Locations
This is also why I’m incredibly intentional about the locations I recommend. Sure, some locations are beautiful. But not every beautiful location is realistic for every family. Busy streets, crowded spaces, or overly formal locations can sometimes create more stress than they’re worth, especially for parents with little kids who love to run.
As a mom myself, I completely understand the anxiety of trying to keep your children from:
- running into strangers
- hurting themselves
- touching everything
- becoming overstimulated
So I intentionally choose locations where children have room to move freely and safely. Places where they can run buck wild for a minute and it’s completely okay. Because when parents feel less anxious, kids feel it too.
Bring an Activity Your Kids Actually Enjoy
One of the easiest ways to create natural photos is to give kids something familiar to do.
That might look like:
- looking for shells
- playing tag
- spinning in circles
- collecting sticks
- dancing
- throwing rocks in the water
- cuddling on a blanket
- running toward the waves
Movement creates connection. And connection creates the kinds of images families actually treasure later. The goal is never forcing children to “act right.” The goal is creating an environment where real moments can naturally happen.
And If You Need a Bribe… Make It Fun
Listen, I’m a mom too. and I love a good bribe when needed...
and sometimes the ice cream bribe is 100% needed.
But there’s a big difference between:
“If you don’t smile, you don’t get ice cream.”
and:
“After this we’re going to celebrate with ice cream!”
One creates pressure.
One creates excitement.
Kids can feel the difference.
You Don’t Need Perfect Kids for Beautiful Family Photos
You really don’t.
You just need a photographer who understands childhood, movement, personality, and the fact that families are beautifully imperfect.
My entire approach is built around:
- child-led sessions
- low-pressure environments
- movement over stiffness
- connection over perfection
Because years from now,you're not going to care whether they smiled perfectly at the camera. They’re going to care that you showed up. That you played with them. That you existed in the frame beside them.
Exactly as you were.
If you’re looking for a relaxed family photographer in Mobile, Alabama or along the Gulf Coast who embraces real life instead of perfection, I’d love to photograph your family.
