How I work with young children during a family session | Oklahoma Family Photographer

Little kids are my favorite subjects to photograph, hands down, because they are unapologetically themselves and I’m so here for it. I know a lot of parents stress out about how their kids are going to “behave” during their yearly family photo session but here’s what I think… your photos would be kinda boring if your kids were perfect angels and didn’t run around being the free spirited souls they were meant to be.

I want to share how I work with young children during a family photo shoot. My hope is that once you understand my process, you’ll also understand that you do not have to get frustrated with your kids during our session if you think they aren’t doing what they “should” be doing.

I’m fully prepared to chase your kids around and make it a fun session for everyone.

Really, I’m used to this and I consider it part of the job. I love it actually. The way I learned photography was documenting my three, not so little anymore, boys and if you don’t think I was chasing them around while they tried to outrun me then, well.. you’re wrong lol. I’m not saying it isn’t challenging when a kid makes it a game to avoid my camera but what I am saying is that I’m totally okay with it. I turn it into a game I play with them and you’ll be surprised at the images that come out of it.

I give kids a job to do.

Everyone loves a purpose and one thing you’ll read over and over again in good parenting articles is to distract kids, give them a job to do. Since most of my family sessions are outdoors, picking flowers is usually a go to for me. I’ll ask them to pick a bouquet of flowers to take home or show me the coolest flower they can find. It works like a charm!

I allow the children to play.

If they session is at the families home, I ask the kid to show me their favorite toys or play a game with mom or dad. If we’re on location, some common things I’ll ask kids to do are to spin around in a circle or jump up and down. This usually elicits the playful and joyful emotion I’m hoping for and captures the child in their true nature.

I understand when kids just need a break.

Kids get overstimulated like just adults. I’m receptive to when they’re over it and that’s when I try to get some photos of just the parents together. It never fails that after a little time with no attention, the kids come back for more!

I manage expectations.

Lastly, I manage my expectations about how your kids are going to act and I think you should too. I expect them to be kids!! Before every session, I type up a session outline where I visualize and list out all the shots I would like to get and in what order. It’s kind of like studying for a test because I actually do study and memorize the outline. That way when I show up to the session I have a game plan. Ask me how may times a family session has actually gone exactly according to the game plan.. bahahaha.. about never! I don’t expect it to though and that’s okay because I really just consider it a backup plan for if the session doesn’t unfold naturally where I take the lead of the kids.