The 3 most important rules for family photo shoots.

How to make family photo shoots stress free and fun!

Family photos shouldn’t be stressful or something you dread. I’m here to assure you - gone are the days of stiff family photos where the kids are miserable as they are expected to look perfect, sit completely still, and smile for 45 minutes… all the while parents are at their wits end after getting them to do it.

As family photography has evolved over the years, we’ve learned that there are much better ways of capturing beautiful photos, all the while everyone is having a good time. While each family is different, the tips I’m sharing apply to anyone.

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Tennessee family Christmas photos near Franklin, TN.

“Family photos can sometimes be a dreaded experience, especially with three kiddos involved. Alice made this session feel natural and stress free! We are so happy with the magic she captured!”

— C.S.

A family from Franklin, Tennessee posing for their Christmas card photos.

How to have the best Christmas photo shoot:

1. Be flexible!
   Life happens. When you become parents you learn this in a whole new way. Kids don’t have the same comprehension as adults, their attention span is shorter, and they haven’t fully learned how to regulate their emotions. Take this mentality into your photo shoot! Maybe the kids need some time to warm up, or maybe they need to stop midway through the shoot for a 5 minute break and a snack. Ideally, you should be hiring a photographer who knows this as well, and can ebb and flow with you.

2. Let the meltdowns happen!
   Tears and tantrums are nothing to be ashamed of as a parent, and they aren’t worth freaking out over. Most of the time when parents lets their kids have a few minutes to feel their feelings and regulate, they wind up calming down and are ready to interact again in no time. Putting pressure on kids to calm down and smile typically makes the meltdown worse.

3. Let the kids lead!
   If they’re curious about something, explore it with them! If they’re being silly or cuddly, match them! Realistically you only need a few nice, posed photos, and the rest are candids of you guys being YOU! More often than not, the candid photos often end up being favorites of clients. Letting the kids lead also makes it a much more fun an positive experience for them so that they are much more likely to be good sports the next time you take photos.

If you follow these family photo shoot rules, you’re bound to have a great experience, and get photos that you love!

A Tennessee family getting dressed in their Christmas outfits for a photo shoot.

A cute country Christmas outfit for a little boy in Tennessee.

Photos of a family based in Franklin, Tennessee, taken at the beginning of the autumn color change in mid October. We stuck to the three rules, and they wound up exceptionally happy with their photos!