Are My Kids Too Wild for a Family Photography Session?

I always find it amusing that the behaviors that many parents fear most when hiring a professional family photographer - that their kids will act like wild animals, that their kids will have meltdowns, that their kids will wipeout in their nice clothing - are the very things that make sessions “edge of your seat” interesting. I’d argue they’re the behaviors that create the magic of family sessions. Can you tell I like a little tension in my creative practice? All jokes aside, I get it. I’ve been on the other side of the lens plenty of times and my kids have always thrown curve balls that I don’t anticipate.

Kid Meltdowns

To be clear, I make every effort to pay close attention to what your kiddo needs before we get to a meltdown scenario, but sometimes they are unavoidable. Meltdowns happens in life and so meltdown sometimes happens at shoots. We dust ourselves off and then we move on. There is never any judgement or impatience on my end. My ongoing mantra during all my family sessions is to just allow and keep saying yes to whatever arises. Also, those meltdown photos are gold. 😉

Kids Hyper, Wild, Manic Energy

This is almost never a problem. In fact, I think one of my super powers during family sessions is channeling the wild energy into dynamic, joyful, expressive imagery. You’ll never hear me ask your kiddos to chill, with the one caveat that I’m a real “captain safety” about things. In an ideal session, we set-up a safe space for your kiddo to play and rifff and be themselves and it doesn’t matter how feral they get.

Kids Clothing (Mishaps)

Your kids may refuse to wear what you want them to wear. They may wipeout and get their pants muddy half-way through through the session. It’s all ok. The more we can let go in this area the better. In fact, it’s really the least important aspect of what makes the connected family imagery you see on this website. Side note: One year my kid refused to take off his costume biker helmet. Another year my other kid refused to leave my arms without screaming. At the time, it was stressful. But when I look at those photos, it is so completely endearing to me.

I’m grateful to have a memories of the little idiosyncracies that would have been lost in the sieve that is my mom brain. Because that’s what these family photography sessions really are. Beyond the pretty photos you have to mark the year or season, the images we make at sessions are memory keepsakes. They’re heirlooms - both visually and narratively. They tell a story that you’d otherwise forget. A huge shotout to this beautiful family that I photograph year after year. The kids are little fireballs and the parents do their best to keep up. Just the way I like it. 😜 If you’re feeling inspired (or convinced?) to have a family photo session with your wildlings, please get in touch!