How to Make Kids Love Family Photos

My tried and true rules for getting your kiddos to look forward to photo shoots.

Hello there friends! I’m a documentary-style family photographer based out of Doylestown Pennsylvania. I am always searching for better ways to capture authentic family connections, and in my sessions, that means almost no staging. So how do we make sure the vibes are great and the photos look incredible?? I use these 3 strategies every time.

Rule #1: Share the Lens

Kids are naturally, fabulously curious! In photoshoots, they’re excited about novelty, and they want to be a part of it! But shove a weird-looking lens in their face and they’ll be (understandably!) super suspicious. In my experience, kiddos are used to phone cameras, but they don’t spend a lot of time around the big boy lenses, so I make sure to introduce my cameras to them first thing. I like to show them what’s up on my side of the lens, and I always bring along a couple disposables (or polaroids for the bigger kids) to let them play photographer with me!

Not only do they love getting to take some pics themselves, but they very quickly learn that we’re all trying to get a good shot, and they value it almost immediately. They also get some really awesome shots sometimes!

Rule #2: Look for the shot between the shots

The "in-between" shots in a photoshoot are where the super cinematic moments hang out. Those moments that occur between the planned frames are super genuine and sometimes really striking. In family shoots, the “in between” shots tend to capture the natural rhythm of childhood, so for me, they’re the heart and soul of our galleries.

I took this shot of a kiddo while he was “escaping” a posed Christmas card shot.

This was taken when kiddo was having a bit of a cry and needed a “pick me up” from dad in between shots.

Rule #3: Prioritize Play

Kids want to move, and photographers want shots with movement. Movement isn’t a problem it’s a huge asset! Check out the shots we got from some really simple movement-cues.

I only have two goals - to get your family stunning keepsakes that you can look back on for decades to come, and to make sure your kids have a really fun afternoon. No fuss, no crying, just a touch of fun!

If you’re looking to book a family session with me I’d love to connect! I really hope to get the opportunity to work together.

~Jackie Carfagna

Salt & Stag Photography