Tips for Getting Great Family Photos with Kids

It's summertime here in Minnesota, which means that families (including mine) are taking advantage of the nice weather and getting updated family photos. With little kids, this is not always an easy feat! Here are some tips from a photographer's viewpoint to help you get some great family photos with kids and make memories to last a lifetime.

My husband and I have a three year old and a six month old, and I'm making it my goal to get our family photos done professionally at least once a year. Let's face it, if I don't, there will be about 400 photos of my husband and the kids and one or two of me. In my spare time (whatever that is!) I also do some photography and particularly love family photo shoots. From my perspective as a mom and as a photographer, here are some things I do to make the whole experience go smoothly.

Tips for Getting Great Family Photos with Kids

1. Plan your outfits ahead of time. I always wait until the last minute to get our clothes ready and then get frantic about finding things that go well together. I try to pick things that aren't too matchy-matchy but still all coordinate. It's also best to stick with tops that aren't too busy. Neutral colors are usually a safe bet, but depending on your surroundings bright colors can be fun too.

2. Let your kids be kids! For a type A person like myself, it's hard not to constantly be saying "smile, don't move, put your hands in your lap," etc. during our photos. When I'm the one taking the pictures, I also see this happening and it can really change the mood of the whole shoot. If the children are getting impatient, I let them run, climb, and play for a bit and take candids of them during that time. If we let them do that, they're usually much more cooperative when it comes time to sit down and take a posed photo. It can also help, if they're old enough, to ask where they would like to take the picture or who they'd like to sit with-letting them have those small choices makes a big difference!

3. Get some candid pictures if your photographer is willing. I used to be all about the posed photos but when parents are able to interact with their kids you get some very real moments and smiles, and those are the photos you're going to really love when they get older.

We love candid photos!

4. Try not to schedule pictures when you know your kids usually sleep or eat. Making sure their bellies are full and they're not tired will make a huge difference in how they act during the shoot.

5. If you're taking outside pictures, try to plan it for a time of year when the weather is favorable and the background of your photos will look nice. Here in Minnesota for example, in the spring after the snow has melted everything just looks dead. It's better to wait until the trees and flowers are blooming and the weather is more predictable. Autumn is also a gorgeous time to take pictures outdoors and you can really utilize the fall colors.

6. Get some pictures of your kids interacting with each other. In my opinion nothing is sweeter than the moments between siblings (at least when they're not fighting over toys or pulling each other's hair, which happens in my house already). Asking the kids to give each other a hug or a kiss can elicit some amazing pictures and those are often all-time favorites for parents.

Siblings are the Sweetest!

7. Focus on the photographer instead of trying to get your kids to smile. I can't count the number of times I've had to heavily edit a picture or skip it entirely because a parent is tickling a kiddo or saying "smile!" Most photographers will work their tails off to get your kid to smile and it usually works. You're better off just continuously smiling at the camera while the photographer dances around and makes crazy noises to get those happy grins.

8. Take the word "cheese" out of your vocabulary! I'm totally guilty of telling my daughter to say cheese, but all I ever get is a goofy, toothy grimace. With young kids, some preferable ways to get a real smile are shaking a noisy toy, making animal noises, and playing peek-a-boo. If you have a fun aunt or grandma that can come along for the photos, they often work even better. 🙂

9. Bribes are not always a bad thing. Usually we try to plan something like a trip to get ice cream after the photos are done, and if our three year old stops cooperating, we let her know that we have just a few more pictures and then we can get a treat. We try not to bring out the bribe until we're getting close to the end.

10. Most important of all, have fun with it. Don't be afraid to squeeze your husband's booty or kiss your son's cheek in a picture. Let your daughter know she has a beautiful smile and toss her up into the air. Your photos will be authentic and they'll show the real love you have for each other!

I hope these ideas help you get some great family photos! Have other tips? Leave them in the comments!