How to have a stress-free family photo session with toddlers

Every parent walks into a family session with the same fear: “What if they won't cooperate?” Here's the truth after twelve years of sessions: they won't, at least not the whole time. And it doesn't matter. Here's how we set you up to win anyway.

Before the session

• Protect the nap. Book the session for the window after sleep and food, not before. For most families that's late afternoon.
• Feed everyone. Including the grown-ups. Hungry people don't laugh.
• Don't oversell it. Skip the “you have to be good for the pictures” speech. Tell them we're going to the park to play with Miss Sammie.
• Pack one secret snack and one small toy. Not for bribing. For the moment the fuse gets short.

During the session

• Let me run it. If three adults are giving directions, kids tune all of them out. I'll give the prompts, you just play along.
• Never say “smile.” You'll get the fake one. I'll get the real one by asking who's the stinkiest person in the family.
• Move. Walking, swinging, racing, tossing. Motion creates connection, connection creates photos.
• Breaks are fine. A two-minute reset fixes most meltdowns. The light will still be there.

Adjust your expectations, up

You might get twenty minutes of “real cooperation.” That's all we need for the classic everyone-looking-at-the-camera shot. The other forty minutes are where the gallery comes from: the piggyback ride, the dandelion inspection, the hug nobody planned.

Your kids don't need to be perfect. They need to be themselves, and you need to be there with them. I'll handle the rest.

Book the length that fits your crew on the family sessions page, or just say hi.

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