How to Prep Your Kids for Your Family Session
The less you over-prepare your kids, the better the session usually goes. Don't make it a big event. Don't promise treats. Don't coach them on how to smile. Just bring them.
The instinct most parents have before a family session is to talk it up: "We're getting our photos taken on Saturday! It's going to be so fun! You need to be on your best behavior!" Said with good intentions. Backfires almost every time.
Kids feel the pressure. Toddlers especially get suspicious when something is being framed as a big deal, and the more you build it up, the more they brace for it. The session goes better when it feels like just another thing the family is doing that day.
01 · Before the Session
Keep it simple. A few things to say and a few things to skip:
What to say:
"We're taking some pictures with Kelsey on Saturday. It'll be fun."
"She'll tell us where to stand. We'll be outside for a little while."
What to skip:
"You have to be on your best behavior."
"If you smile, you can have a treat after."
"Make sure you look happy in the pictures."
The first set keeps it light. The second set adds pressure most kids can't deliver on.
02 · The Day Of
Set your kids up to feel like themselves. A few practical things help:
Sleep. Whatever you can do to protect their normal nap or bedtime the night before is worth it. Tired kids photograph tired
Food. Feed everyone before you leave the house, and bring mess free snacks. Hungry toddlers melt down fast
A comfort item. A favorite stuffed animal, a blanket, a pacifier. Bring it. It doesn't have to be in the photos, but having it nearby keeps the kid regulated
A change of clothes. Especially for the under-3 crowd. Spills, mud, and unexpected diaper situations happen
Their own input on something. If your older kid wants to wear specific shoes or bring a specific item, let them. Kids who feel like they had a say show up more engaged
04 · If Things Go Sideways
Something always goes a little sideways, and that's fine. A toddler refuses to look at the camera. A baby blows out a diaper. An older kid suddenly gets shy. None of it breaks the session, and most of it ends up in the gallery in a way you'll actually love.
A few things that help in the moment:
Don't apologize for your kids. They're doing what kids do. If you spend the session saying "I'm so sorry, he's normally not like this," you're spending energy that should be going into being with them
Don't try to fix their face. Telling a kid to smile bigger or stop making "that face" almost always makes it worse. Let me work with whatever they're giving me
Take breaks when you need them. If your kid needs to sit down, eat a snack, or have a minute with you, we pause. The session has built-in flex for this
Let them be little. A toddler who wants to be carried for half the session is a toddler being carried. That's a real photo of where your family is right now