Everyone (well maybe not *everyone*) that does family photography will tell you this:
Be prepared to bribe your kids with treats during a family photo session.
But today, I want to go a little “nontraditional” and give you what I believe is the secret to relaxed family photos:
Lower your expectations.
Now, I don’t mean lower your expectations to not expect high quality photos that you love of you and your family. That is something you should absolutely walk away from with any family photo session that you do. I mean lower your expectations of how you expect your children to behave. So, why is this important?
- When parents are stressed about kid behaviors, kids feel that and will start to either shut down or stop cooperating altogether.
- Everyone is tense in the photographs.
- We want the experience to be enjoyable. For everyone!
So, let the kids be kids. Your photographer is skilled in working with little ones and drawing them into scenarios that will help them capture their authentic selves. I’ve had to put this into practice for my own family photos I’ve had taken. I just go into it with an open mind, knowing that the photographer will capture the current season of life that we are in. If we get ONE photo of all of us smiling at the camera, then that’s perfect.
(I’ve literally had families who come back to me year after year, and they’ve had years where their kids won’t smile at all, and the photos still come out great and they love them!)
But to be honest? It’s all the chaotic, candid ones that melt my heart the most – both as a mama and as a photographer.
So – let the kids be kids; let your photographer lead you; and relax and remember that the photos are about capturing who you are as a family.
And when all else fails – bubbles and bribes 😉
And that my friend, is the secret to relaxed family photos, and will make all the difference in having a stress-free family photo experience and getting family photos that you LOVE.
PS. Really want to take this advice and run with it? I offer family photo sessions! You can check out my work here if you’re thinking it’s been a while since you’ve had family photos done! I have a pretty good success rate 😉
Linda is a Portland-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies from Portland to Boston and across New England. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com.
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