Anticipating how your children might behave during a family photo session is a common worry among parents, and I get it. How to get kids ready for your family photo session is a topic that comes up with most of my Baltimore families. You want cooperative kids, but the truth is, they’re people, too. They have tough days, like us. They go through things, like us.

My goal is to keep the stress and pressure as low as possible for everyone, including your kids. Here are a few tips to help your kids prepare for our time together.

Get kids ready for your family photo session: before your session

1. Keep your schedule the day of your photo session light. Avoid overscheduling your kids and doing lots of busy running around if you can.
2. Make sure everyone is well fed and rested as best you can. Hungry kids are generally not happy kids.
3. Talk to them before the session! Let them know that your family is going to spend some time together with a friend (me, I’m the friend) who will take some pictures while you guys get to play and have fun. If your kids like dressing up and “being fancy” like my oldest, play up that aspect, too.

During your photo session

1. Be okay with however your kids show up to our session! Shy or a little wild, it’s all good. I will meet them where they are.
2. Don’t discipline your kids during our time together. Even if your child seems a little wild or spicy, it’s okay. Don’t feel the pressure to correct and reprimand – that can sometimes exacerbate the situation. I’m not easily offended and know how to redirect kids if they’re being a little wild. I’ve also found that sometimes, kids are more willing to cooperate with requests from a stranger than parents. If that’s the case, don’t worry, my kids do the same thing sometimes. Being a parent is humbling.
3. Be playful, be loving, let your guard down. Soak in your kids. Really connect with them. In turn, they’ll reciprocate, allowing me to capture everything you love best about them, right now.
4. Embrace the wild! I’ve gotten pretty good at this whole family photographer thing, and can typically get everything I need in about 45 minutes. If I can tell your kiddos are getting antsy, I’ll ask them to let the wild go free. Sometimes this ends up being some of my favorite images from a session.

Want to see more of my family portfolio? Head over to check it out!