As a photographer, few things in our job are as incredible as having a beautiful family session where everyone is laughing, loving up on each other, and having fun. Unfortunately, one of the biggest things I see at family sessions is STRESS. Parents are often on edge leading up to their session because they have to worry about getting everyone dressed and presentable, getting there on time, and making sure everyone focuses long enough to get a good picture. This usually ends up with some sort of meltdown or emotional explosion during the session, which doesn’t lend itself to natural, happy smiles. The sweetest family photos come from moments where families are interacting with one another in loving and playful ways. So today I want to share with you my top three tips for reducing stress BEFORE your family session so you can be present, joyful, and relaxed DURING your session!

Family of 4 hugging each other at Portsmouth City Park | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Family of 4 walk by the water at Portsmouth City Park | Take the Stress out of Family Photos

Tip #1: Start Planning as Early as Possible

If you reach out to a photographer this week for a session next week, you’re going to be stressed! Schedule your photos AT LEAST one month in advance so you have time to look through your closets and go shopping if necessary. Most photographers will happily offer styling tips and advice to help you and your family look your best - my clients get my Style Guide emailed to them after they book AND a video chat a few weeks before their session to provide more detailed support and answer any styling questions they might have. Booking your session in advance gives you a planning window that can keep you from doing the last-minute scramble.


Bonus tip: If you’re a procrastinator, let your photographer know that when you book! I love creating personalized checkpoints for my clients to make sure they don’t do the “it’s the day before my session” shopping freak out!

3 siblings sit on parade grounds at Fort Monroe | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Family of 5 look at each other on beach at Fort Monroe | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Husband and wife kiss on the beach at Fort Monroe | Take the Stress out of Family Photos

Tip #2: Get Yourself Ready First

As parents it is easy to put our kiddos first in all things, but getting ready for photos should not be one of them! Do whatever you can to give yourself plenty of time to get ready WITHOUT the kiddos interrupting. If that means leaving work 30 minutes early, asking the neighbor to let the kids come play, or having a sitter occupy them for a little bit, so be it! You’ll feel much calmer knowing that you are ready to go and all you have to do is throw some clothes on the kids at the last second so they don’t get them dirty.

3 siblings run on Grandview Beach | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Dad and daughter look at camera while at Grandview Beach | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Son hugs mom while playing at Grandview Beach | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Husband and wife laugh while standing on path to Grandview Beach | Take the Stress out of Family Photos

Tip #3: Check Your Expectations

Expectations have the tendency to make everything a little tougher. When kids are in a new place or a place they haven’t been in a while, they are going to have the urge to explore and play - and that’s totally okay!!! Don’t expect your kids to be perfectly behaved, standing still and smiling perfectly in every photo. That’s not real life, it’s not how you’d expect them to be on a normal day, and putting that weight on them and yourself is a surefire way to have a stressful session. Let the kids run around, play, and have fun. It will create beautiful photo opportunities of them in their natural, curious, crazy state. Plus, when they are occupied, it gives me time to capture some sweet, loving photos of you and your spouse that I know you’ll cherish.

Mom kisses daughter on cheek in downtown Hampton, VA | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Family of three stand on pedestrian street in downtown Hampton, VA | Take the Stress out of Family Photos
Dad kisses daughter on cheek in downtown Hampton, VA | Take the Stress out of Family Photos

If any of these tips leave you with butterflies in your stomach - tell your photographer! We truly want you to trust us beyond just believing we take nice photos. It is our job to help you feel comfortable and prepared going into your session to reduce stress AND to provide prompts and opportunities for fun and play during your session. We will play games, jump, tickle, run, and more to elicit those gorgeous, natural smiles from your whole family.


Your photographer wants you to not only love your photos, but to love the experience of capturing those photos. It honestly matters more to me that my families have fun during their session, because that means they will have fond memories of the experience when they look at their photos, which makes their meaning even more powerful. Follow these tips and build a strong relationship with your photographer and I know you’ll love every part of your family photo experience!