How to Prepare Your Kids (and Yourself!) for a Fun, Stress-Free Photo Session

Most parents tell me they feel a little nervous before family photos. Whether it’s a full session or a mini, they wonder if their kids will “behave,” if the outfits will work, or if their space feels good enough for photos. I get it, I’m a parent too! But here’s the truth: what makes a photo meaningful has very little to do with perfection.

It has everything to do with how you connect and how you love each other. The way your toddler climbs into your lap without asking. The sound of your son’s laugh when you let him chase you through the yard. The quiet pause when you hold your child close and they rest their head against your shoulder. Those are the moments that become the most precious when you are scrolling through your phone’s photo album late at night.

One of my favorite recent sessions was with this 👆🏻 family whose toddler kept taking her diaper off — over and over again. Each time, her parents laughed, scooped her up, and gently put it back on. They didn’t scold or try to control the moment. They simply met her where she was with love, and at one point they decided to just let her be free of her diaper. But those frames of them mindfully handling this whole diaper situation are some of the most authentic, joyful photographs from our time together. That’s the kind of spirit I want to capture for you.

Here are a few ways to approach your session so it feels less like a performance and more like time well spent together:

1. Let Go of Expectations

The best photographs usually aren’t the ones where everyone is posed and smiling. They’re the little, in-between moments — your child’s mischievous grin, the way they cling to your hand, the chaos and the calm side by side. When you release the pressure for “perfect,” you make space for real connection.

2. Choose Comfort Over Coordination

Choose pieces you feel good moving in, colors that feel like you, and fabrics your kids won’t resist. When you’re at ease, it shows in the photos.

3. Allow Time to Breathe

Kids pick up on our energy. Build in extra time for snacks, outfit changes, or simply a pause before we begin. A slower pace helps everyone feel more relaxed and open.

4. Welcome the Little Things

If your child has a favorite blanket or toy, bring it along. These details tell the story of who they are right now, and one day you’ll be so glad they’re part of the photographs.

5. Embrace Play

My sessions aren’t about forcing poses. They’re about letting your family interact the way you already do— running, twirling, exploring, or curling up together. When kids lead the way, the most honest photographs emerge.

I’ll always do my best to capture a handful of those everyone-looking-at-the-camera portraits (and I love them, too!). But truthfully they’re never my main focus.

My priority is making sure you and your family have a good time together — and with me! If your kids would rather show me their toy dinosaur collection or run off to explore, that’s exactly where I want to meet them.

Sometimes the posed shots fall into place naturally, and that’s wonderful. But if they don’t, I promise you’ll still walk away with images that feel true to your family and this season of life, photos that bring you back to the joy of the day.

At the heart of it all, the only preparation you really need is to show up as you are and love your family the way you already do. That’s what I’ll photograph. The rest — tantrums, snack breaks, diaper escapes — is part of the story. And it’s a story worth keeping.

If you’re ready for family photos that feel easy, joyful, and true to your family, I’d love to connect with you. You can reach me here to start planning your session.