How to Prep your Kids for Family Photos
As a mama myself, I know planning family photos is so stressful. Kids can be unpredictable, and you never know how they will respond around a camera or the person taking the photos. I can tell you one thing, even if you do everything right to prepare, your session probably won’t go perfectly. AND THAT IS OK! But you can do your best to set your kiddos up for success for a great session. That means planning ahead and thinking through some things before your big photo shoot day. So here are some tips to help you have a great family session with your sweet babies
Look for a photographer who is willing to play with your kids
I know so many photographers who offer family photos but not all of them are great with kids. And not all of them are creative in trying to get them to smile. Look at photographers portfolios when considering who will take your family photos. You want to see family photos that aren’t stiff, or just kids smiling at the camera. You want to see kids who are running around, playing, and giggling. They might capture a good melt down too haha but you want playfulness in your family photographer, so look for that when looking for a photographer. I will say moms usually make the best family photographers because they just get it ;) So if you can find a mama photographer you’ll probably have a great family photog.
Plan around sleep schedules
You know your kids and their schedules. Yes, golden hour provides the best light and it's preferrable for us photographers. but it may not work great your kid's naps or sleep schedules. If you know your kids get cranky later in the day, talk to your photographer about moving your session time. You may need to consider a location that is local to you so they aren’t in the car for too long, and you may want to find a location with decent shade if you need to do your photos earlier in the day. This way if the light is harsh, you can still get some softly lit photos. If you are doing a newborn session it is actually ideal if your baby sleeps during the session, so if you know your baby is usually more sleepy and content during the morning, plan a morning session!
Feed those kids
hangry kids make for a hard shoot. Please feed your kids before you head to your session. And Pro tip: make sure to keep them out of their clothes you have planned for the session while eating so they don't get their outfits dirty. I also recommend bringing some clean, easy snacks for the session as well. Think Goldfish or Cheerios, food they can easily pop in their mouth and smile afterwards. You might also want to bring a treat of some sort for them too. Most kids will be on their best behavior if they know they get a little treat at the end or even during the session (grab some tiny gummies, tic-tacs, or skittles, again something easy to pop in their mouth real quick) for quick rewards.
If you're nursing or bottle feeding a little one, most photographers should allow you to pause to give you some time to feed baby. But if possible try to feed them before hand, and make sure to burp them with a rag so they don’t spit up over you or their cute outfit.
Bring Toys or Props
if your toddler has a stuffed animal or a cute rattle the like, bring it! If your kids love bubbles, bring them. Anything you can bring to help your kids feel at ease, have fun, and feel comfortable, bring it. Have your photographer take the toy behind the camera to try and get your kids attention. I do this a lot if kids bring their stuffed animals, I’ll have their teddy bear take the pictures with me. I do recommend trying to bring wooden or neutral colored toys. These will look good in your photos and not be a distraction or an eyesore.
Talk to your kids about what to expect
If you have older kids, talk about your session In the days leading up to it. Tell them a friend is coming to take pictures. Tell them your are going to play, cuddle, smile and want them to do their best to be good listeners and follow the directions of the photographers. And let them know there will be treats after for anyone who does a good job.
Even with all of the prep, there may still be hiccups during your session. That is ok!
My biggest piece of advice: don't stress and have fun
Seriously, go with the flow, laugh when things don’t go as you planned. Take each moment as it comes. Come willing to play with your kids, tell a few jokes, have a tickle attack, play tag, ring around the rosie, blow some bubbles, chase some birds ;) have a dance party. Do what you can to loosen your kids up and have fun. Your photographer will do their best to get great photos of your family together. And if you want a guaranteed kid friendly photographer, I was a nanny for 8 years and I’m a mama myself. I’d love to take your photos! Inquire with me to book a session.
Tori Dawn is a Northern California Photographer photographing in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Carmichael, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Davis, Rocklin, Woodland, West Sacramento, Lincoln, Auburn, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Galt, Granite Bay, Orangevale, Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Dixon. Travels frequently to Southern California, follow me on IG if you want to see my posts about when I’m traveling down that way.