Preparing for a Family Photo Session | Minneapolis Family Photographer

People often ask me how they can best prepare for a photo session. Usually, they are referring to which outfits they should wear or what toys/snacks they can bring with them to make things run smoothly, and while both of those things are important (I can make a post on that another time), there is one thing in particular that comes to my mind as THE most important way to prepare, and it also happens to be the key to any great photo session. Ready for it? Here it is:

Expect to enter the session prepared to be fully present with your people and to enjoy them. Have no expectations beyond that. I will do the rest of the work! So many parents enter their sessions with the expectation of getting nothing but perfect smiling photos, and that expectation can make photo sessions extremely stressful, not just for you but also for your kids. However, be rest assured: We will absolutely get those smiling photos and so many other sweet ones as well!

Kids will be kids, and meltdowns will happen during photoshoots. And that is totally okay! You’d be surprised how many great photos we can capture in the midst of the chaos.

I’ve found when kids start to spiral during photo sessions, it’s usually a sign they need a break. My method is to just follow their lead. Do they want to run and play more than sit and snuggle? No problem, we’ll capture some playful photos! The goal here is to capture memories that are authentic to your life here and now. And that happens when we roll with the punches.