3 Ways to Make a Family photo session with kids a success.

As a family photographer, I always tend to keep your session as stress-free as possible. And sometimes, let's face it, life is easier with some straight guidelines. That’s why today I want to share some of my tips on making any family photoshoot with kids a successful one.

1. Have fun.

First and foremost - getting your photos should be fun! Preparing for your photo session can be stressful. I get it. You have to figure out what to wear for the whole family, pretty often leaving the choice of an outfit for yourself to the last minute. It can also be time-consuming. But that’s why I’m here. I can get this stress out of your family. I can share my ideas on what to wear, give you my piece of advice on the beautiful places as a stunning background. But trust me, all of this doesn’t matter as much if your family is not having any fun. Remember, that’s your only job during our session. Have fun! Enjoy your time with the family! And you will be rewarded with beautiful photos.

2. Follow your child’s lead.

Once we get the important “classic” shots out of the way, it is time for us to finally get comfortable with each other, get over the awkwardness of the “first” meeting. Now is a great time to give your children the freedom to naturally explore what’s around them. When we let the kid freely get into something they want to do, he or she will be naturally motivated to interact and play. That helps to bring out natural expressions from the child. Let them lead the way! So I can capture these sincere emotions of joy the kids have at this young age. A tip within a tip here. I find it helpful to pick the familiar locations your kid already knows and likes to play at for your photoshoot, like a park or a playground.

Sometimes your child doesn’t show interest so if there is something you know he or she might like, we can plan an activity.

3. Engaging your child in an activity.

Let’s be honest, it is not very interesting for a young kid to stare at the camera for an hour or even more. The more fascinating thing is to play with fallen branches, to find the prettiest shell on the beach, or to check out what kind of bugs hide under that stone. Maybe you can be the one who points it out to your child. Engage him or her into playing together. It can be something that will unfold organically, like playing with the leaves or doing the piggy rides. The time you spend together is priceless. Especially while doing something you both enjoy.

In conclusion, I want to say that I love working with families, especially with children. I can’t get enough of them. It is always so much fun! It doesn't matter if you have a big family with four kids or a small one. Every family is unique and I see it as my task to capture these special feelings between parents and their kids.