From the moment you arrive to the finished photos: You’ll learn how a family photo shoot with me works. Read about how I take photos without posing, how we get a reluctant child excited, and what happens next
The most common question before a family photo shoot isn’t “What should we wear?” but “What are we supposed to do there?” Behind this question is almost always the same concern: that you’ll have to perform in front of the camera while your kids aren’t cooperating.
That’s why I’m taking you through the photo shoot day here. Everything you need to plan and pack beforehand is covered in the post ” Preparing for Your Family Photo Shoot.”
Here you will find a brief summary of the main content of the article:
- Arrival: A family photo shoot begins with a short warm-up period during which we hardly take any photos at all. Children need this time to get to know the location and the photographer.
- Guidance Instead of Poses: In an unstaged photo shoot, families are given small tasks instead of being asked to strike specific poses—for example, running toward each other or lifting the child up. The photographer captures the authentic reaction that results from these actions.
- Breaks: Breaks are an integral part of the schedule, and they tend to be more frequent for younger children. They’re for snacks, physical activity, changing clothes, or simply taking a breather.
- If a child isn’t cooperating: Whining and crying are just part of family photography. We’ll just take a break. Children sense the pressure from their parents, so it’s crucial for parents to stay calm.
- Duration: A family photo shoot usually lasts one to two hours. With young children, one hour is usually enough, but larger families and multi-generational shoots take longer.
- A Quick Summary: What Happens on the Day of the Shoot
- How do we start the shoot?
- How can I take photos of you without you striking poses?
- What if we feel uncomfortable in front of the camera?
- What should we do if our child won't cooperate during the shoot?
- How many breaks do we need during the photo shoot?
- Is the process different outdoors, at home, or in the studio?
- What happens after the family photo shoot?
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Process of Your Photo Shoot
- Take a look at my offer for family shoots
- Take a look at other articles on family photography
We don’t start with the camera—we start with a walk. The first few minutes are for settling in: saying hello, chatting briefly, and taking a look around the location together. During this time, I hardly take any photos at all, and that’s on purpose.
Kids need this lead-up. If I start taking pictures right away, I end up with exactly what nobody wants: tense faces and a child hiding behind Mom’s leg. So first I walk along with them, talk to the kids about something completely different, and let the camera hang quietly and visibly by my side the whole time.
At the same time, we’ll go over any remaining questions. Are there any spots at the venue that you particularly like? Is there a specific photo that’s important to you—for example, a picture with your grandparents or a photo for the living room wall? Let me know now, so I can factor it into the schedule.
After about ten minutes, I usually notice that their shoulders relax and the children start exploring their surroundings. That’s when I start taking pictures.
I give you tasks, not poses. Instead of saying, “Stand here and look at the camera,” I ask you to walk toward each other, lift the child up, or whisper something in each other’s ears. That movement creates a genuine reaction, and that’s what I capture in my photos.
The difference may seem small, but it completely changes the photos. You have to hold a pose, and that pose is visible in every photo. You have to perform a task, and while doing so, you forget about the camera. It’s precisely in that moment that the look you’ll later recognize in the photo is captured.
In practice, this means we move around the location instead of staying in one spot. The children are free to run, climb, collect leaves, or throw stones into the water. I observe, go along with them, and take pictures when something genuine happens. There’s no rigid plan we follow. There’s a framework within which a lot can happen.
You’ll still get a classic family photo where everyone is looking at the camera. This isn’t a contradiction—it’s just part of the experience for most families. I make a point of including it, usually early on when everyone is still fresh, and then we get back to the action.
In my post ” Ideas for Your Family Photo Shoot,” I’ve compiled a list of the kinds of photo ideas, groupings, and subjects that can result—from sibling photos to generational photos with grandparents.
This is true for almost all adults, and it’s one of the things I hear most often before a family photo shoot. You don’t have to know how to do anything or act a certain way. My job is to guide you so that you never even find yourself in a situation where you have to pose for the camera.
Children rarely have this problem. After a short while, they’re absorbed in their play and don’t think about how they look. Their parents, on the other hand, do think about it: whether their belly is showing, whether their smile looks funny, or whether their hands are in the wrong position. This insecurity is normal, and it doesn’t go away just because I ignore it.
What helps is a trick I use in almost every photo shoot: I direct your attention away from the camera and toward your children. When you’re tickling your child, tossing them in the air, or listening to them, you’re no longer thinking about yourself. That’s why the photos you end up liking the most are almost always the ones where you didn’t feel like you were being watched.
When selecting photos, I also make sure to show you in the best light. Perspective, lighting, and posture make a big difference.
Then let’s take a break. A child who is crying or acting out right now can’t be talked out of it, and trying to do so will only make things worse. We pause, distract them, give them some time, and as a rule, the situation calms down again after a few minutes.
This isn’t an unusual situation—it’s just part of family photography. Young children have their off moments, two-year-olds always say “no,” and teenagers find the whole thing embarrassing at first. In over a thousand photo shoots, every family has gone home with great pictures, even if there were some tears along the way.
What matters is your attitude in that moment. Kids can tell right away when parents get tense because the photo shoot costs money and everything has to go smoothly. That pressure rubs off on them, and a brief whine turns into a long tantrum. If you stay calm, your child usually will, too.
In moments like these, I make a point of staying calm and sometimes just keep taking pictures without anyone noticing. Because a child in its mother’s arms, just as it’s calming down, is often the most genuine image of the entire shoot.
As many as you need. Breaks are built right into the schedule and won’t cost you any photos—they’ll actually help you save them.
A break can be many things: a snack, a sip of water, a few minutes of playtime without the camera, or simply taking a deep breath. Outside, we often use this time for little exploration trips, during which the children collect sticks or examine a puddle. Afterward, they’re much more motivated than before.
Changing outfits is also a break and takes time. One or two outfit changes per person are perfectly manageable and add variety to your photo selection. Any more than that will noticeably drag out the shoot, and young children in particular will lose interest. I’ve put together a separate post on which outfits go well together for your family photo shoot.
What I don’t do during breaks: rush people. The best family photos aren’t taken on an assembly line. They happen when no one is watching the clock—not even me.
The process remains the same in all three cases: arrive, warm up, get moving, take breaks. The main differences lie in the lighting, the space for movement, and the extent to which the surroundings themselves become the subject of the photo.
Outdoors, the children have the most freedom to move around, which adds a sense of energy to the shoot. I plan the shoot based on the light: soft evening light, shadows in the forest, or an overcast sky determine where and when we take photos. I’ve described locations, seasons, and how to deal with the weather in my post “Outdoor Family Photo Shoots.”
It’s usually easiest to start at home, because the children are in their familiar surroundings. We take photos where the natural light is best—often by the window, on the sofa, or in the kids’ room. The session takes on a calmer, more documentary feel because your everyday life becomes part of the picture.
In the studio, we work with natural light and a minimalist background. The children have fewer distractions, but often take longer to settle in. So I allow more time for the warm-up phase.
After the shoot, I review all the photos, select the best ones, and edit them. You’ll then receive an online gallery where you can take your time choosing your favorite photos and download them in full resolution, depending on the photo package you selected.
When selecting photos, I’ll do the sorting for you. I’ll pay attention to focus, composition, and expression, and make sure all family members are well represented. Duplicates and very similar shots will be removed so you don’t have to click through hundreds of nearly identical photos.
I then edit each photo individually and give it my signature style, which makes your photo series look harmonious and cohesive. The editing process preserves the natural look of the photos. I’ll remove blemishes, scratches, or distracting objects in the background, but beyond that, I work with great care.
In the gallery, you can browse through the photos together on the sofa, mark your favorites, and choose your photo package.
