📷 Photography Tip — How to prep the kids (and keep your sanity)
Kids can make or break a family session — but with a little prep, they’re usually the best part of the whole shoot.
Don’t say “we’re doing family photos.” Say “we’re going to the park” or “we’re going on a little adventure.” The less buildup, the less resistance.
Don’t tell them to smile. Seriously. “Say cheese” produces the most forced, robotic grins known to photography. Instead, ask them to tell you a joke, make a silly face, or whisper something funny to Mom or Dad. The real smiles that follow are worth everything.
Bring a small snack and something they love — a favorite toy, a ball to kick around. A happy, distracted kid is a naturally photogenic kid.
Schedule around naps and hunger. A tired or hungry child will let you know — loudly. Mid-morning after breakfast is usually golden.
And give yourself grace. Kids run, wander, and ignore directions. That’s not a problem — that’s the whole point. Some of the best family photos happen when everyone stops trying to pose and just plays together.
What’s the funniest thing a kid has done during a photo you’ve been part of?