You've been thinking about family photos for months. Then you picture the actual session: your toddler running the other way, your seven-year-old doing the fake smile, someone crying before you even get out of the car. You start to wonder if it's even worth it.
It's the question I hear more than any other, usually right before someone books. So here's the honest answer.
Your kids don't have to cooperate
I mean that. A family session with me isn't a lineup where everyone has to look at the camera at the same time and hold still until I'm done. That's not what I'm trying to photograph.
I'm photographing your family the way it actually is right now. Your kids climbing on you, wiggling out of a hug, laughing at something their sibling did. A toddler bouncing on the sofa isn't ruining the session. That bounce is usually one of the photos you end up loving most.
One of my long-time clients put it better than I could. She said the photos let her keep "who he really is. Not a kid posing a certain way for pictures."
What actually helps (and what doesn't)
There are a few things that make a real difference for kids, and none of them involve forcing a smile.
Timing around naps and meals. This matters more than anything else. A fed, rested two-year-old is a completely different person from a hungry one at 4:45pm. When we talk on your planning call, we'll pick a time that works around your kids' schedule, not just the light.
Plenty of time. Portrait sessions run up to 90 minutes, so nobody is rushing. If someone needs a snack break, a few minutes in your arms, or a lap around the room, we take it. Kids can feel when the adults are in a hurry, and it makes everything harder.
Letting them move. I'll give your family things to do instead of places to freeze. Walk together. Pick up the little one and spin. Whisper something silly in your kid's ear. Movement gets real expressions, and it gives busy kids somewhere to put their energy.
Playing games. This is my favorite part. We play Simon Says, freeze dance, peekaboo, even tag. Kids stop thinking about the camera the second there's a game going, and that's when the real laughs show up. Little ones get peekaboo, bigger kids get a round of freeze dance, and sometimes the parents end up playing too.
What doesn't help: "Say cheese." Threatening to take away screen time if they don't smile. Telling them over and over to "look at Mrs Alison." I promise the photos are better without it. The more pressure kids feel, the more they shut down, and you end up with a gallery of tight, tired faces.
What about the one photo where everyone's looking?
You'll still get it. Most families want at least one portrait where everyone is together and looking at the camera, and I always make sure we get it. Usually it happens once the kids have relaxed, not at the very start when everyone's still stiff from the car ride.
The difference is that the "everyone look here" photo is one moment in the session, not the whole goal. The rest of your gallery is the in-between: the hugs, the laughing, the little one hiding behind your leg.
Studio or outdoors for little ones?
Both can work beautifully. Outdoor sessions give kids room to run, which is great for high-energy families. The studio in Gibsonville is quiet, warm, and contained, with a sofa they can climb on. It works especially well for toddlers who get overwhelmed by new places or wander off.
We'll talk through which one fits your family on your planning call, along with outfits, the feel you want, and where the photos might end up in your home.
If your kids have a hard day
It happens. Sometimes a toddler just isn't having it, and that's okay. We slow down, we give them space, and we keep going when they're ready. I'm not going to make you feel rushed or embarrassed.
One mom whose family has done two sessions with me said "our kids have felt so comfortable with her." That's what I care about most, because comfortable kids are the ones who show up in the photos as themselves.
Ready when you are
If the only thing stopping you from booking family photos is worrying about how your kids will act, take that off the list. Bring them as they are.
Sessions start with a $190 session fee, which includes your planning call and a session up to 90 minutes. Link in bio, or reach out through the contact page on my website to get started.
