23 Sept 2025

Written By Julie Clarke

It’s normal to feel anxious while organising a family photoshoot that includes children. You’re creating experiences that you’ll treasure for years to come and making a long-term investment. Since kids aren’t always easy to work with during photoshoots, it’s common to feel anxious before bringing them along.

Photos with kids can be challenging, I understand as I have children of my own, and I have worked with a lot of children over the years! I always try to come prepared with games, toys, sweets, or bubbles and a bundle of energy to help entertain your little one.

Once you’ve found the right outfits, take a moment to breathe deeply and unwind. Here are my top tips for making a photoshoot with children easier. (If you need help with outfits, I also send an outfit guide in preparation for your shoot! As well as an in depth preparation guide for your family session with these tips and even more!

My Top Tips

• Prepare Yourself
• Self Care
• Bribery and Rewards
• Follow my Lead
• Give them Breaks
• Movement
• Gratitude

Prepare Yourself

Your kids will pick up on your stress and annoyance and respond accordingly. Generally speaking, their behaviour will improve if you are relaxed and having fun. You might have to give in on some things to maintain peace, like not doing your daughter’s hair because she won’t sit still. Don’t get caught up in the details; instead, concentrate on the bigger picture.

There are several ways to prepare so that you get the most out of your photoshoot, even though some factors, like terrible weather or illness, are unavoidable. First, make sure that picture time doesn’t coincide with naptime by planning our session around your child’s routine.

Feed them before the shoot and bring easy-to-eat snacks with you to prevent hangry meltdowns and mess. Bring a favourite toy or snack to entice them with if they’re having a hard time. Children can be kept from getting bored or wandering off by using toys and quick activities like bubbles.

Self Care

A tip for making a photoshoot with children easier, that I swear by is to take some time before your session for some self-care. Whether that is a nice relaxing bath, getting your nails done, yoga, or even a five-minute break to practice deep breathing. You are in charge so you set the tone for your family. If you show up as your best, calm and collected self then your family will most likely feel the same!

It can often be stressful trying to get everyone ready and out of the door so it is helpful to do something calming the day or night before, for not just yourself but for your family too! Make sure everyone is well rested. 

Bribery and Rewards

If you want to make your photoshoot with children easier, then you should prepare to bribe your little ones. I know this is not ideal all of the time, but for the sake of your images and smooth running session then this may be a good idea! You could bribe and reward them with sweets.

I always bring some easy options like mini marshmallows, PEZ, etc, something small that they can have a few of without being messy like lollies or chocolates. 

If your children are older, a bigger reward for after the session could also help like a fun movie night, their favorite dinner, going to their favorite restaurant, or going to get ice cream after the shoot! You know your child best so think of something really fun that they’ll really enjoy that you can remind them of during the session and that tends to help them get through any grumpy moments if they have something to look forward to afterwards!

Follow my Lead

If parents follow my lead, your kids will too. If you’re constantly threatening or fussing at them to listen or behave, smile or look at the camera, that’s not going to make good pictures and will cause unnecessary stress. Instead, model for them, have fun and follow my instructions and let me be the one asking them to do things.

Kids tend to behave slightly better toward strangers vs their parents because they are less secure in our new relationship vs your comfortable one. But if they see you trusting me to take the lead, they will follow too! 

Give them breaks!

The reason I usually have 1-hour sessions is to give your kids lots of little breaks, plus we do not want to drag it out for too long! We can let them run out some nervous energy and I can focus on the parents for a few photos.

We can play a little game of chase for example, and then they might feel comfortable to start taking pictures again. You have to let kids be kids, they are full of energy and fun and we have got to work with it! This tip for making photoshoots with children easier is essential, we need to remember who they are.

Movement!

On that note, movement is our best friend. It stops your little ones from getting bored and it is more natural. I do lots of movement prompts with families, so don’t worry about how you’re going to pose and what you need to do.

We still get lots of poses with smiles. But, the majority is snuggles, tickles, and making jokes so that we can get some natural, authentic, in-the-moment images. We worry less about perfection and more about having fun and documenting that because let’s be real that’s how your kids most likely are at this stage!

Gratitude rampage

My favourite tip for making a photoshoot with children easier is gratitude.

I am a big believer in raising your vibration and the easiest way to do this is a gratitude rampage. So if you’re feeling a little frazzled when you get in the car this is the best way to shift that energy before your session. There are a couple ways to do this:

1. Everyone in the family take turns saying something they love about someone else in the family. Go round robin until you arrive. Everyone will feel a little more loved and connected by the time you arrive.
2. Gratitude in general. List everything you can think of from big to small or all over the place. I am so thankful for the sun, the moon, fresh drinking water, snacks, the family dog, the clothes I’m wearing, getting to go out of the house, my comfy bed, my favourite teddy, coffee, sweets, etc. Again you can have everyone take turns or just the parents can say them out loud on the drive.

Either of these lists will help set the tone for your session and it’s my number 1 hack to making your family session go much more smoothly. Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Now you’re feeling more relaxed at the idea of a Family Photoshoot with Children

Understandably, children can be hard to photograph but if you follow my tips for making a photoshoot with children easier, then you will without a doubt feel much more confident and have a successful photoshoot! 

Planning a photoshoot with children starts with understanding their likes and dislikes and knowing the best way to capture their natural beauty! If you would like to discuss this further and book your photographer then you can enquire with me here! Let’s have a coffee and a chat.