5 Tips for a Stress Free Family Portrait Session - Placerville Family Photographer

Mom, dad and daughter have a great time at their family portrait session.

1. Set Realistic Expectations

Stress free means that as a mom I understand that most kids are not going to sit through a 15-30 minute session pretending to be happy about it. With this in mind, my sessions are both interactive and fun! I provide you with direction to get you to interact with each other versus static, fake smile poses. The interactions I create provide real reactions to make kids look and feel natural in photographs.

Girl blowing dandelion during photography session.

2. Bring a Bribe

Usually at family portrait sessions I bring treats like lollipops, in case someone is not cooperating. This is a great way to relive stress by knowing there’s a back up plan, when things don’t go as planned. (Hate to break it to you, but they never do.) I also suggest parents bring their own treats as well or the promise of ice cream at the end of family photography session can entice even the most pouty kids.

3. Know How the Photographer Shoots

The beauty of the digital camera is that a photographer can take as many shots as they would like. All those moments in between instructions can be documented and, honestly, those are some of the best moments for natural looking photographs. Why? Because no one is thinking about the camera. So don’t stop what you’re doing when you here the click in between “poses.”

Family photography at Sly Park Recreation Area

4. Make Sure Your Photographer is Encouraging

My job is to be there for my clients, to make them feel that they are doing a good job. Family portrait sessions can be very deflating if the photographer is not enthusiastic, which reflects on your mood. Deflated moods lead to unnatural looking photographs and high stress levels. Getting your picture taken should be exciting!

5. Don’t Expect Smiles All the Time

I don’t expect my child to smile all the time and I don’t expect it in family portraits either. It’s unnatural to force a smile and it shows in photos, they look cheesy. It also stresses out the family if one person doesn’t smile because everyone encourages them to do so. Kids that don’t smile can still have wonderful photos that often look soulful and heartwarming!

​See what an hour long session is like or for a true stress free photography experience try a different kind of session like "day in life" sessions.