So, you’ve booked your family photo session, picked out your outfits, and planned to have a low stress day the date of your session.

You’ve reviewed my tips for how to prepare for your session, plan to have the kids (and adults) well fed, packed extra snacks, and spare clothes (just in case), and are wearing shoes that you can move and have fun in.

So, now what? What other tips do I have for clients to help have a low stress and successful family photo session?

Tip #1: Smile

fall family photo session at Laurelhurst Park in Portland Oregon by Hunnicutt Photography

There’s a funny thing about this tip. I want you to refrain from telling your kids to smile as this will lead to lots of “cheese” and un-natural facial expressions. And that’s not what you want in your photos.

So, just don’t tell the kids to smile. Instead tell them to have fun!

But, the best thing that YOU can do throughout the session is SMILE. When the kids are going crazy (and trust me, they will because I make the session a fun high energy time) running around and having fun, remember the absolute best thing that you can do is just keep smiling!

Rather than bringing attention to how your kids are behaving, I really encourage you to relax, and as un-natural as it sounds, to just smile through it. When both parents are having fun, laughing, smiling and connecting with the kids and each other, no one will sense any chaos in the images. They will see a family having a blast together.

Also, kids take social cues from the body language and expressions of adults around them. If the parents/other adult family members/ teens are happy at the session, and the photographer is happy at the session, then everyone will be relaxed and filled with joy. AND, bonus, if you are happy and smiling throughout our time together, it will shine vibrantly through your images, and you will all have positive memories of having your photo taken. It’s a win all around.

Tip#2: Be Ready To Play and Have Fun

family photography session in Portland Oregon at Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park

I give lots of prompts, such as playing the game telephone, “kiss mom on the cheek”, and ask ridiculous questions to help lighten the mood and create a fun atmosphere. These prompts also help to elicit natural reactions from kids and adults! They’ll cause you to laugh and smile, which in turn will create fun, happy, joy filled images. Now…one warning… if you as the parent make lots of silly faces at your children to elicit laughter, it will end up in your photographs. So, it’s ok for that to happen a little bit, but I wouldn’t overdo it… as I will photograph your face too!!

If you have a quiet or serious child, don’t worry. After a little bit of time they often loosen up during the sessions, and I want you to know that I never force activities or smiles. We can create a lovely gallery filled with you holding your sweet son or daughter. In my experience though, when the photo session is filled with fun activities, running, jumping, and twirling together, I’ve found that kids who are originally more reserved relax and then get into the fun of the session. So, your job as the parent is to (like tip #1 recommends) keep smiling! You’ll love the results it garners in your photos.

Tip #3: Stay Connected

mom with arms around son at Lake Oswego family photography session by Hunnicutt Photography

Now…this sounds like a funny one…but by always staying connected to your loved ones during your session, that love and sense of togetherness will shine through in your images. So, if your child or partner is standing by you, hold their hand, touch their hair, pick them up, or graze their back or shoulder with your hand. This sense of love and intimacy is elevated and never looks awkward. So, there’s no need to worry about what to do with your hands during your session! Use them to stay connected to your family.

I have a few other recommendations for how to prepare for your photo session, which you can read on my blog here. But, SMILE, FUN, and CONNECTION are the big tips I want you to remember during your shoot.

Would you like to learn about the different family photo sessions I offer? Click on this link for family photography session details, and to see a full gallery from a family lifestyle photography session, follow this link.