Taking the kind of family photos you’ll fall in love with is simple from the perspective of an experienced family photographer, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. Technical skill, trust, and participation all work together to create a successful photoshoot. But if you really want to know the secret to creating playful family photos that keep your kids entertained throughout, especially the smaller ones? It’s full family curiosity sprinkled in with small playful moments.
Tap into your inner child
Tapping into your inner child with your kids is such a key component of keeping them engaged that it’s part of my prep, I remind every client that books a session with me about this. This doesn’t mean you have to constantly be throwing them in the air or tickling them the entire time. It just means staying curious with them and letting them lead a bit.
This can look like gathering stones and asking them what color they are, pretending a stick can be a flag that you hold together, then bringing them in for a hug. The playfulness doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just has to be genuine.
Give them a voice
The main thing to remember: try not to rush through play or anything they might be interested in doing. Engage them in a little bit of play, then ask them what they would like to do next. You’d be surprised by how much this changes their mood when they feel involved and given a choice on what to do next, versus being told to smile for the camera or sit still.
When kids feel like they have agency in the shoot, they relax. And when they relax, that’s when you get the real moments. That’s when playful family photos happen naturally.
Why longer sessions matter
This family are longtime clients of mine, and we began their first photoshoot at this very same spot. When they had their second baby, we thought it would be sweet to return to the same location.
Does it get more challenging as you add kids to a photoshoot? That’s one way to look at it. Or you can try what they did: utilize the entire space to keep their kids entertained. That’s what we did here, with a little bit of my help to keep transitions smooth. We began on the beach, let the kids explore for about 15 to 20 minutes, then traded off for some sitting family photos, then did some playground exploration, then traded off again for more family beach photos.
This is exactly why a longer session time works so well, we’re not rushing the kids to the next thing in an effort to get photos that might feel forced. Instead, we’re building a day where play and photos flow naturally together.
Ready for playful family photos?
If you’ve been looking for a photographer who captures lifestyle family photos that feel natural, candid, and in the moment, I’d love to chat about creating the same for your family. My dates and times are always listed online for your planning needs, or simply send me an inquiry to share your vision.
