Eight Tips For Planning A Family Photoshoot With Small Children

So, you’re thinking about booking a family photo session with a professional photographer. You’re excited to be documenting this stage of your family’s life and are looking forward to having some beautiful prints to hang on your walls. But your 2-year old is going through the “terrible twos”, and your 5-year old might not cooperate.  You can’t see how any photographer can possibly capture those cute little dimples, cheeky smiles and enthusiastic hugs that you want to remember.

If you feel anxious when thinking about a family photoshoot with small children, I understand. As a parent myself, I’ve been there countless times. As soon as a kid notices the clothes, the tidy house and the photographer, their behaviour can change, and they pick up on your anxiety, too.

But you can relax - I have a lot of experience of family photoshoots (believe me when I say that I’ve seen it all…) and I will use every tip and trick in my toolbox to make sure that your children are happy and engaged in the process, even if that means changing location frequently, playing games and capturing candid shots of the kids when they think I’m packing my things away.

Of course, we need to work together to make the most of our time together, so here are my top eight tips on planning a photo session with small children:

1. CONSIDER THE STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

First things first. The art of photography has many facets and every photographer has their own way of working. Consider which style and photographer will work best for your family. It’s a good idea to do some research on your photographer (for example, look up their profile on Instagram), to find out how they work and to view their style. Posed studio sessions can be difficult (if not impossible) for energetic toddlers, but relaxed family lifestyle shoots are made for them.

2. SMART TIMING

Choose a time when the kids are at their best. In my experience, mornings (9 or 10am) work well for home sessions, but it will differ from family to family simply because some kids are early risers (hello sunrise!) and some will let you sleep late. Don’t forget to take mealtimes, nap times  and snack times into consideration too - ideally the children should be playful and rested, not hungry.

3. BYE, BYE ITCHY CLOTHES

Above all else, clothes should be nice and comfy. Prepare at least one complete change for everyone, in case of accidents and also for variety. Do use accessories, but nothing they despise. Some kids won’t wear a hat, no matter how cute they look in one!

4. NO (AND YES) TO TOYS

It's best not to use any toys during the session, as they can be distracting in the final photos. Playing games usually keeps the kids entertained enough, while also creating the interactions we want to capture. However, there may be times when only a toy will do, so prepare a few of them in case they are needed. They should be the type of toys that the kids can play with and that will look good on photos too (a wooden car or nice plush color-neutral teddy will do just fine).

5. KNOW WHEN TO USE BRIBES AND SNACKS

The thing with bribes is that they don't really work when kids are small as they want whatever it is immediately!  Snacks can make a mess and also don’t look nice on the final photos, so try to avoid them as far as possible. As a last resort, natural biscuits or pieces of apple are best. Pro tip: you could have some small treats on hand for the end of the session when the photographer wants to squeeze in just a few more shots (m&m’s, wine-gums, etc).

6. FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

Whatever happens, try to keep your cool. Kids have a sixth sense for knowing when their parents are worried or stressed about their behaviour.  If things start to slip out of control (and they probably will!) the experienced photographer will be ready to propose games, suggest a change of scenery, or use other tricks to bring the smiles and giggles back.

7. DEALING WITH CRYING

It happens and, guess what, it’s perfectly normal! Don’t worry - comfort your child, enjoy the cuddles and let the photographer take photos of your tender interactions. Trust me, those images are equally precious.

8. ALL IS NOT LOST 

Last but not least - be realistic. Saying that, I don't mean you have to compromise the quality of the outcome; you deserve beautiful photos. But, just think, what's the worst that can happen? A good family photographer will not leave you with images you’re not happy with. If you really can’t get the images you were hoping for, your session should be rescheduled.

I hope that was helpful. If you want to find out more about a family session with me please get in touch. I will be absolutely delighted to chat with you!