Top Tips On How To Cope With Misbehaving Children At Your Family Photoshoot


You’ve had a wonderful idea… to have some professional family photographs taken – how lovely! They could be hung up around the house, breathing some much-needed life into the bare walls. Or choose an elegant photo album in which to have them thoughtfully arranged. We’ll joyously look through them for years to come and pass them down through the generations.


But… after booking your family photography session, you begin to have doubts. What if the children misbehave?!


As a parent myself, I completely understand if you feel anxious about how your children will behave at a photoshoot – but I’m here to put your mind at ease. I’ve worked with many families during my career as a lifestyle photographer and I’ve always been able to present my clients with a selection of beautiful photographs after the session. That is my job after all!

As a parent myself, I completely understand if you feel anxious about how your children will behave at a photoshoot – but I’m here to put your mind at ease. I’ve worked with many families during my career as a lifestyle photographer and I’ve always been able to present my clients with a selection of beautiful photographs after the session. That is my job after all!


The aim of a family photography session is to, not only make beautiful memories captured in stills, but also to have a unique, fun experience. The candid nature of my photography is what makes it authentic so please don’t worry about your child(ren) pulling silly faces or charging about or yelling loudly. This is simply kids being kids – and I want to snap it all! 


Some teenagers may be reluctant to be involved at all. If they do act up, try not to show your anger and frustration – you’ll certainly end up with memorable photographs but not for the right reason! They do need to be present but can sit and read a book or play computer games if they wish. They’re more likely to relent and be more compliant if given some freedom.


So that you have a truly enjoyable experience, here are some of my top tips on how to prepare children for a family photography session:

Talk it through


Some surprises are great – a surprise birthday party or an unexpected visit from a loved one. But it’s better for certain things to be known about beforehand – particularly for children. Letting children know when a family photoshoot will be happening and explaining how it works will help children to prepare themselves mentally and give them time to ask any questions that may allay possible fears.

Pick a location that best suits the whole family


If you choose to have your family photoshoot at home, the children will be surrounded by all their toys so they can play to their hearts’ content. Alternatively, an outdoor space, such as the local park, might be a better option if your kids are happiest running free or clambering about on a playground.

Dress for comfort


Lifestyle photography isn’t about posing so there’s absolutely no need to dress up in formal clothing. This doesn’t mean they can’t wear something nice, just avoid anything too restrictive or anything they particularly dislike. If you don’t want your children to have complete freedom over their fashion choices, giving two or three options to choose from can often be enough to placate them.

Keep hunger at bay


Hunger is one of the main causes of bad tempers so make sure you have plenty of snacks and refreshments on hand. Full bellies usually mean happy children!

Don’t lose sleep


If you have young children who still nap, and they become tired during the shoot, feel free to let them have a sleep. Make your life easier and avoid any grumpy sprogs.


So, when it comes to the day of your family photoshoot, just relax and go with the flow. Rest assured, I’ll be clicking away, watching everyone’s true personality shine through.


If you’re interested in a family photoshoot or any of my lifestyle photography sessions, you can book here.