Let's be honest for a minute… When you think about family photos, you probably picture everyone looking at the camera, smiling beautifully, hair perfectly in place, clothes wrinkle-free, and your toddler somehow cooperating long enough to get the shot.
And then reality shows up. Someone spills something on their shirt. Your toddler decides they absolutely cannot live without carrying a stick into every single photo. Your preschooler refuses to hold hands. Someone needs a snack. Someone else needs to go potty. And just when you think you've finally gotten everyone looking in the same direction... your kid runs away. Ring a bell?
In fact, some of my favorite images are the ones that happen when we stop trying to make everything perfect. The giggles. The cuddles. The running. The silly faces. The little hand reaching for yours. The moment your toddler buries their face into your shoulder. The photo where everyone is laughing because something completely unexpected happened. Those are the moments that tell the real story of your family.
One of the biggest concerns I hear from parents before a family session is, "I'm worried my kids won't cooperate." As a mom myself, I get it!
You spend the entire morning trying to get everyone dressed, fed, and out the door on time. You've reminded your kids approximately 37 times to listen. You're hoping everyone will magically turn into perfectly behaved little models the second you arrive. But toddlers and young kids aren't robots. They're curious. They're energetic. They're silly. They're emotional. They want to explore their surroundings instead of standing still and smiling at a camera. And that's okay!
When I'm photographing your family, I don't need your kids to sit perfectly still for the entire session. I actually want them to move, explore, play, and interact with you. Because that's where the good stuff happens!
If there's one thing I want parents to take away from this, it's this: You don't need to spend your entire session saying, "Smile!" or "Look at the camera!" The more pressure kids feel to perform, the harder it can be to get genuine expressions. Instead, I'll give your family prompts and games that encourage interaction. Maybe we're running together. Maybe we're having a tickle fight. Maybe your toddler gets to be tossed in the air. Maybe we're making silly faces or seeing who can give the biggest bear hug. And sometimes I'll ask everyone to look at the camera and give me that classic family portrait, too. But we'll mix it in with the real stuff. Because a genuine belly laugh will always beat a forced smile.
I know it can be tempting to correct your kids throughout your session. Telling them to not get dirt, stop running, look at the camera, stand still, etc. But what if, just for this hour, we let them be kids? Let them run. Let them explore. Let them laugh. Let them get a little messy. Let them be silly. Let them snuggle. I'll worry about the photos. Your job is to love on your family!
Because when you stop worrying about whether everyone is doing the "right" thing, something pretty magical happens. Everyone relaxes. Your kids feel more comfortable. And we can capture the personalities and relationships that make your family yours.
Maybe you've been putting off family photos because your kids are going through a difficult phase. Maybe your toddler is stubborn. Maybe your baby won't sit still. Maybe your older child has decided smiling is embarrassing. Maybe you haven't lost the baby weight. Maybe your house isn't perfectly decorated. Maybe life just feels a little chaotic right now. I want to remind you that this is the season you're going to want to remember!
Years from now, you won't look at these photos and wish your toddler had stood still for another five seconds. You'll see their tiny hands, their wild personality, their favorite smile, and the way they looked at you. You'll remember them. And that's what I'm really trying to capture when I photograph your family!
If you're ready to document your family exactly as you are right now, I'd love to help! My family sessions in and around Greendale and Milwaukee are relaxed, playful, and designed with real families (and real kids) in mind. Get in touch to start the discussion about how we can embrace the chaos and create some memories you'll be glad you didn't wait to capture!
