Family photoshoots are about capturing beautiful memories of your favorite people—which means this type of session should be fun and stress free! As a Colorado Springs family photographer, I love documenting love and relationships of all kinds. But I sometimes hear concerns from parents of young children when it comes to scheduling a photography session.

Parents are sometimes worried that their kids are too young, too rambunctious, or too reluctant to smile for the camera, and that their images won’t turn out well as a result. Let me assure you, no matter what age your children are (or how energetic their personalities!) it is absolutely possible to get beautiful photos you will treasure forever! Here are my tips for a successful photoshoot with children:

Advice from Your Colorado Springs Family Photographer for Your Family Photoshoot with Children

Before Your Session

Hype It Up

In the weeks leading up to your family’s photoshoot, you can get your children excited for the big day! Tell them how great it’s going to be and why it’s so special to you. One fun way to do this is looking through old family photos or albums with your kids so they can get an idea of the importance of these memories. You might show them photos of themselves when they were a baby and talk about how excited you are to have pictures of them the way they look now.

Fashion Show!

Choosing outfits is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in preparation for your photoshoot. To help you feel confident in your wardrobe choices, it can be helpful to have the family try on clothes together before photoshoot day. Make a game or fashion show out of it!

Trying on clothes ahead of time will give you a better idea of whether they work well, and can also give you a heads-up on anything that might need to change. For example, maybe you find that your daughter doesn’t like wearing a dress, or that your son adamantly refuses to wear that shirt that isn’t his favorite color. If you know this ahead of time you can make a plan so you’re not surprised on photo day.

Choose a Time That Works

Make sure you schedule your family photoshoot for a day when the weather is pleasant. Being too hot or too cold can make it tough for little ones to enjoy themselves. And if possible, choose a time that’s the least disruptive to your normal schedule. Young children generally love routine, so schedule your session for a time when it won’t interfere too much with things like naps or mealtimes.

On the Day of Your Session

Sleep and Snacks

On the day of your photoshoot, make sure your children are well-rested and have full tummies. For the little ones, I do recommend bringing some favorite snacks as a reward if that works for your child.

Play Time

Let your children be silly and have fun! I always start with movement and fun games for the children during the beginning part of the photoshoot. For example, we might play a game that involves running to mom and dad, or do a red light/green light walking game, etc. I find this helps lighten the mood and keep little ones entertained and smiling.

Expect the Unexpected

Put yourself in the mindset to expect the unexpected! Even with the best preparation in the world, sometimes things don’t go perfectly. Your child may get upset or refuse to cooperate for a shot and that is okay. We will go at their pace and give them breaks throughout the photoshoot as needed. Flexibility is one of the keys to a successful photoshoot with children, and as a Colorado family photographer and mom myself, I’ve got  lots of it!

Be Yourself—and Let Kids Be Themselves

In my opinion, the best photos are the true, candid, and joyful moments of you interacting with your children—plus all the sweet moments in between! So let your kids be themselves. Every child has their own beautiful and unique personality. If your child wanders off in the middle of the photoshoot to go pick some flowers, or wants to run around in circles for fun, let them! Remember, not every photo has to be each family member looking at the camera. I will be snapping away the whole time to capture those sweet, genuine moments.

Ready for a relaxed and joyous family photoshoot?