How to Prepare Your Kids for an In-Home Family Photoshoot (Without Tears or Bribes)
Let’s be honest, getting family photos taken can feel like a big deal. And when you’ve got kids in the mix? Even more so. Will they cooperate? Will they smile? Will they wear pants? (Maybe.)
Here’s the good news: an in-home family photoshoot is about capturing real life, not staged perfection. It’s a chance to pause and preserve the season you're in; snack breaks, sticker obsessions, messy paint apron and all. And the best way to prepare your children for the session? Keep it low-key.
Here are five easy ways to help your kids feel comfy, calm and (dare I say) excited for the experience.
1. Tell them they don’t need to do anything special
One of the best things about natural family photography is that your kids don’t need to sit still or pose on cue. In fact, the more themselves they are, the better.
Let them know they don’t have to perform. No “say cheese,” no forced smiles, just hanging out at home like you always do, getting lost in the moment. Whether that’s snuggling on the couch, building pillow forts, or zooming around in dress-ups, it’s all part of your family’s story.
A relaxed kid is a photogenic kid. Promise.
2. Build some excitement—but keep it light
Instead of framing it as a big event, talk about it as something fun you’ll do together as a family.
You could say something like: “Elise is coming over to hang out with us and take some pictures of us playing and spending time together.” Keep the energy positive and low pressure.
If they’re the curious type, show them some photos from my family photography gallery so they can see what it might be like. Let them see kids just like them having fun at home with their parents, no fancy outfits or awkward poses, just connection and comfort.
3. Make sure they’re well-fed (and you too!)
Nobody is at their best when they’re running on empty, especially toddlers.
Plan your session time around naps and meals, and make sure everyone’s had a good snack beforehand. Have some backup snacks on hand (nothing too sticky or brightly coloured if possible), just in case little tummies get grumbly mid-session.
Bonus tip? Eat something yourself. When you’re calm and grounded, your kids will pick up on that energy.
4. Keep familiar favourites close by
Having some of your children’s favourite toys or books nearby can be a great way to help them feel at ease. It gives them something to hold, focus on, or invite me into their world with.
These little items, well-loved teddies, dog-eared books, even that one toy they always carry around, often make the sweetest details in your photos. They’re part of your everyday life right now, and that’s exactly what we’re here to document.
5. Do something together that they already love
Some of the best in-home photo sessions are the ones where families just… hang out.
Think about a couple of activities your kids already love doing with you: baking banana muffins, playing with bubbles in the sink, colouring in, reading on the bed, having a picnic on the living room floor. Even chores like folding laundry or doing dishes can lead to the most beautiful, natural moments when you’re doing them together.
Having a few go-to activities on hand can give us something to start with, something familiar and grounding that can lead to spontaneous, genuine connection (and lovely photos too).
Final thoughts
Preparing your kids for an in-home family photoshoot doesn’t have to be complicated. The key is to make it feel less like a production and more like a moment of connection. It’s not about being on your best behaviour, it’s about being yourselves.
Because when you look back at these images in five or ten years, you won’t care about ‘perfection’. You’ll care about how the moment felt. And that’s what I’m here to capture.
Interested in booking an in-home session?
I’d love to hear about your family and help you tell your story. No stress, no pressure. Just honest, heartfelt photos of the people you love most.