Ever wonder what a photoshoot with me is like? I talk a whole bunch about play, candidness, and fun – so how the heck does that translate into a photoshoot?

I’m excited to share my workflow for family sessions! For the most part, I follow a similar formula for all my family photoshoots and then customize it with your family in mind.

I’ve been photographing families now for going on seven years, and I’ve had a lot of really great family sessions. I’ve also had some where I’ve walked away and thought, “Oof, I wish that I had done this first, when the kids had more energy,” or “I wish I had ended with this so their clothes didn’t get that dirty.”

Through trial and error, I found a flow that works really well for me and most kids. I’ve broken it up into five sections, and usually, to get through this flow, it takes between 30-60 minutes!

1. Warm Introductions: Setting the Tone for a Great Session

This is the most important part – and it seems so obvious. But I’ve been in front of the camera enough and have also watched other photographers do this time and time again: the moment you arrive on location, you say hi and immediately start photographing. I will take about five minutes or longer to say hi to each person in the family, ask their names, tell them mine, and help break the ice.

I will also take my time to introduce myself to your little ones. For toddlers, it’s more than just saying hi; it’s telling them who I am, showing them my camera, letting them press buttons, giving them high fives, showing them that mom and dad will give me high fives, and also telling them that if they listen to me today, they get a little treat at the end.

Introducing yourself to toddlers and letting them know what’s going on builds a bit of trust, and bribing them with a treat lets them know there’s a reward at the end of the day.

2. Exploring Time: Letting the Toddlers Lead the Way

The reality is that your toddlers have probably been in the car for a little bit due to the travel to the location. Even if it’s under five minutes, let’s be real, they were ready to get out of their car seat.

So, I like to start my sessions with movement, with walking, holding hands and swinging, chasing your toddler, and little moments of them exploring. This allows them to get some of their wiggles out, curb their excitement, and of course, get comfortable with their surroundings.

3. Time for Classic Portraits: Capturing Everyone Together

Now, after they’ve moved a lot and the treat is still top of their mind, I like to try to do some classic portraits.

This is the part where you guys pick up your kid or squat down with them, and we take some quick family photos of everyone smiling. Got a stoic toddler? No worries, we will tickle them, swing them around, and say silly words to get them to smile. After the family photo, we will do photos with each kid and each parent. For these, I’ll ask to have one parent in front of the camera and the other one behind me making silly faces and noises. We will end the portrait session with photos of each of your kids!

To give you some insight here, I probably only spend 5-10 minutes on portraits. We move through these quickly since it’s normally your toddler’s least favorite part.

4. Play Time: Unleashing the Fun

To give us a little break, I’ll take you and your family to another spot at our location. This not only provides variety in photos but also allows us to play with the light differently. This is a good spot to offer snacks and water to your kiddo.

Now that we’ve got the classic portraits out of the way, we can really dive in and have some fun. We are going to engage in some good old-fashioned playtime. This means tossing the kids in the air, flipping them upside down, and putting them on our shoulders. We will have you chase your kids, let them explore, and overall encourage a good time.

5. Time to Get in The Dirt!

Well, more like a blanket on the dirt. After we spend some time playing and chasing your toddler, we all need a little break. So, for the last part of all my sessions, I will have your family sit on the ground. I usually save this for last because your family has probably started to hit a wall from taking directions and chasing a little one around. Plus, when you’re sitting on the ground, this is where you’re most likely to get dirty, so I like to save it for when we are almost done with photos.

For photos on the ground, I have the parents sit first as comfortably as they can, and then have your kids try to snuggle in. This is also a good time to have treats and a moment to unwind as a group.

6. Bonus: Your Special Requests

I always save five minutes at the end of the session to ask if there are any specific photos or poses that you want! I am so thankful to you for trusting my professional opinion on posing and direction – but if you have a photo you’re desperate to capture, let’s try our best!

Adjusting to Your Family’s Unique Dynamics

Remember, every family is different, and so is every shoot. Whether it’s accommodating a just-awoken toddler or a shy child, I’m always ready to adapt. I aim to make your photoshoot experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Interested in a personalized family or toddler photography session in the Bay Area? I’d love to capture your family’s unique story. Reach out to learn more and book a session!