4 Easy Tips for Stress-Free Photos with Young Kids

The Smith family is a repeat client for me and I get so excited every time I get a message saying they want to update their family photos. Their young kids are growing so fast and they want to capture them through every phase and I love it! When I first captured this beautiful family they were a family of three with one on the way. And now they are a family of four!

Doing a photo session with young kids can come with its challenges but here are a few tips to help make it go as smoothly as possible.

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Tip #1 - Take a Nap!

Make sure the kids are well-rested before the session. I know that this isn’t always going to be possible and that’s okay. But if you can sneak in a little nap the day of the session it usually helps avoid some tantrums. 

Tip #2 - Bring a Snack

Another little hack to make sessions with young kids go a little smoother is to bring a snack. I always recommend something that won’t give them sticky fingers or a colorful tongue. I’m not going to say I won't bribe your kids with it because I am 100% going to do just that.

Tip #3 - Bring someone with you

Bring someone with you to help during the session. This could be a parent or a sibling or anyone who will be able to help get the kiddos to look at the camera. They can also hold them while I am taking photos of just you and your spouse. 

Tip #4 - Let them be kids

Lastly, one thing I always remind parents of during a session with young kids is this… Let them be kids. Let them run around and be silly! If that is the phase of life they are in let’s capture it because it will be gone before you know it. This session is the perfect example of that. These kiddos had so much energy and I was here for it. We were able to capture so many candid interactions because of it. Embrace the chaos! It makes for beautiful images.