How to Make Your Family Photo Shoot Stress Free(ish)

Let’s have a chat, mom to mom. To every mom, family portraits are incredibly precious because we all know that these moments with our kids will be only a memory in the blink of an eye, and photos can take you back to the precious moments in an instant. At the same time, the idea of getting young kids together, looking nice and behaving well enough to take photos sounds exhausting and stressful. Because of that worry, too many families miss out on portraits they would have cherished in later years, and they regret it after the opportunity has passed.

Well, I’m here to give you some good news: family photo sessions don’t have to be as stressful as you think they are! There are a few things you can do to make the experience easier so that you can put the anxiety aside and just enjoy this amazing experience with your family.

Choose Your Photographer Wisely

Your photographer isn’t just there to take photos. We walk you through the entire process, including helping you plan a fun and stress-free session. During the session itself, we set the tone and guide you and your kids through every minute.

It makes such a difference to have a photographer who specializes in family photography! With that experience, we know how to organize a family session in a smooth and enjoyable way, how to set the whole family at ease, and how to make sure the kiddos are having fun.

As a photographer, I also help my clients have a low-stress experience by taking an active role in the planning so you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll help you plan the whole family’s outfits, work with you on timing to make sure we’re catching your kids in a good mood, and help you plan all the other logistics.

Mentally Reframe the Session (for Yourself and Your Kids)

I know that this sounds like an easier-said-than-done solution but truthfully, mindset really is important, especially because your kids take cues from you so if you’re stressed and dreading the session, they will too.

Think of the photo shoot as simply an opportunity to have fun with your kids in a park or wherever your session will be, and go into it ready to have a great time!

Trick Yourself Into Planning Ahead

Planning in advance and giving yourself plenty of time to get everything in order is one of the best ways to prevent last-minute stress and a time crunch when you’re planning a photo session. A trick you can use to make sure you aren’t rushing at the last minute is to set fake deadlines for yourself and your family.

For example, give yourself a deadline of two weeks before your session to have everyone’s outfits chosen and buy any outfit items you might need. Require yourself to have all of the outfits cleaned, pressed, and ready the night before the session. When it comes to photo shoot day, tell the family you’re leaving half an hour before you actually do have to leave so that if things run behind, you have some extra leeway.

A family photo shoot doesn’t have to be a stressful or challenging experience, and the best thing you can do to make it a positive day is to hire a photographer who knows how to make this happen. Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography and let’s book your session!