Let Them Be Little: Why Your Kids Don't Have to Be Perfect for Family Photos
The silly, the sweet, the big feelings, and everything in between.
I want to tell you something before you bring your kids to a photo session.
→They don't have to be on their best behavior.
→They don't have to smile every time I lift my camera.
→They don't have to sit perfectly still, keep their clothes spotless, or follow every direction I give them.
→And you definitely don't have to spend the entire session reminding them to smile, look at the camera, or stop being silly.
In fact, I'd really rather you didn't. Because some of my favorite photographs happen when we stop trying so hard to make everything look perfect.
Before I Was a Photographer, I Was a Teacher
I spent 13 years in the classroom, and if there's one thing those years taught me, it's that children are wonderfully unpredictable.
Some kids walk into a new experience ready to tell you their entire life story. Others need a little time to warm up. Some want to explore every inch of their surroundings, and some would rather stay tucked beside Mom or Dad until they're comfortable.
And sometimes? Someone has a big feeling about something that seems very small to the rest of us.
I get it. Truly.
I've spent years navigating all of it.
That experience comes with me to every family session I photograph. I know when to offer a little direction, when to turn something into a game, when to change gears, and when to simply give a child a minute.
Because children aren't supposed to perform for photographs. They're supposed to be children.
It Starts Before We Even Pick Up the Camera
When we're planning your family session, one of the first things I'll often ask parents with little ones is, "What time do they usually nap?" Or, "What time of day is your family at its best?"
Because here's the thing. You know your kids better than anyone.
You know if mornings are their happy place, if they need a little downtime after lunch, or if late afternoons tend to bring out those big feelings.
And while I absolutely love beautiful golden-hour light, I also know that the prettiest sunset in the world doesn't mean much if your toddler is exhausted and ready for bed.
So we figure it out together.
We look at when the sun sets, how the time change might affect our plans, and which local spaces will give us the best combination of beautiful light and room for your family to just be.
And this is where I need your help, too.
Because if you tell me that the second your child spots a playground, all bets are off? Well, we're probably not choosing a location with a playground right next to us. Ha!
If your little one absolutely cannot stand the feeling of sand between their toes, we're not planning a beach session and hoping for the best.
Maybe your child loves wide-open spaces where they can run. Maybe they're happiest exploring a wooded trail, looking for sticks and leaves.
Or maybe they need somewhere a little quieter, without a million distractions.
Those little details matter to me.
I can help you find the light, suggest locations, and create a plan that makes sense for the season.
But you're the expert on your kids, and I want to hear all about them.
Because a successful family session doesn't start with everyone looking at the camera and smiling.
It starts with creating an experience where your family feels comfortable enough to be themselves.
Let Them Play. Let Them Roam. Let Them Be Themselves.
I know how much goes into getting everyone ready for family photos.
You've picked out the outfits, coordinated everyone's schedules, made sure the kids are fed, packed the extra snacks, and somehow managed to get everyone out the door.
And after all that, of course you want beautiful photos.
But here's what I hope you'll remember when we get together.
You don't have to manage every moment.
If your little one wants to collect leaves, let's collect leaves.
If they want to run down the path, let's see where they're going.
If they're feeling silly, let's lean into it.
And if they need to sit with you for a few minutes because everything feels a little overwhelming, that's okay too.
We can slow down.
We can take a break.
We can start again.
There is no prize for getting through a photo session without a single meltdown, and there is certainly no expectation that your children behave like tiny adults.
Sometimes the most beautiful photographs come from the moments you never would have planned.
A Little Holiday Magic, a Little Fall Fun
One of the things I love about photographing families is that a single session can tell more than one story.
We can start with those sweet, traditional holiday portraits. The coordinated outfits, the siblings together, the photographs you'll send to grandparents or tuck into Christmas cards.
And then?
We can change things up.
Pull out pumpkins. Bring on the silly shirts.
Let the kids laugh, play, and show off those big personalities.
Because I don't believe you have to choose between the photographs you want for your holiday cards and the ones that capture what this season of life actually feels like.
There's room for both.
There's room for the fun birthday portraits.
The carefully chosen outfits and the messy hair.
The quiet cuddles and the belly laughs.
All of it belongs in your family's story.
And What About the Big Feelings?
Let's talk about something that doesn't always make it into the pretty Instagram posts.
Sometimes kids cry during photo sessions.
Sometimes they don't want to participate.
Sometimes they're tired, frustrated, shy, or just completely over the idea of having their picture taken.
And sometimes parents start apologizing.
Please know that you never have to apologize to me for your child having feelings.
Like I've said, I was a teacher. I'm a mom. I understand that children have their own needs, emotions, and limits.
If your child needs a few minutes, we'll give them a few minutes.
If something isn't working, we'll try something else.
If they need a cuddle, that might just become one of the sweetest photographs of the day.
I'm not there to force a perfect smile out of anyone.
I'm there to create an experience where your family can relax enough to be yourselves.
And I promise, a little chaos doesn't scare me.
One Day, These Will Be the Things You Miss
I think about this a lot. One day, the little hands won't be quite so little.
The child who insists on being carried everywhere will be running ahead of you.
The one who makes the silliest faces every time a camera comes out might suddenly decide they're too cool for pictures.
And those big personalities? They'll keep growing and changing.
Of course I want you to have beautiful family portraits. I want the photograph where everyone is together, looking at the camera, and smiling.
But I also want you to have the other ones.
The way your child reaches for your hand.
The way siblings make each other laugh.
The way your little one looks up at you when they need reassurance.
The moments that might seem ordinary right now but will mean everything someday.
Because years from now, I don't think you'll look back and wish your children had sat a little straighter or smiled a little longer. I think you'll be grateful that you can remember exactly who they were.
So Bring Me Your Real Family
Bring the shy ones, the wild ones, the curious ones, and the ones who need a little extra time.
Bring the kids who love the camera and the ones who would rather be doing absolutely anything else.
We'll make time for the traditional photographs. We'll find the good light. We'll capture those sweet holiday moments.
And somewhere along the way, we'll leave room for a little fun.
Because I don't want your family photographs to look like everyone else's.
I want them to feel like yours.
And that starts with letting your kids be exactly who they are.
Ready for family photos that leave room for a little personality? I'd love to hear about your crew, their quirks, and all the things that make them wonderfully themselves. Let's create something that feels like your family.
