Family Photos: 5 Tips to Help Kids Have Fun and Smile Naturally

Family photos don’t have to be stressful—especially for your kids. In fact, when approached with the right mindset, it can actually be fun! Here are five simple tips I share with all my clients to help kids feel comfortable and smile naturally during their session, no matter what age they are.

1. Don’t Overhype It

Kids feed off our energy. If family photos feel like a big, serious production, they may tense up. Instead, treat it like any other fun family activity. Say something like, “We’re going to meet a friend who’s going to take some fun pictures while we play.” This works really well for younger children. If you have older children, encouraging them to just be themselves while you hangout as a family helps. The calmer you are, the calmer they’ll be.

2. Choose the Right Time of Day for Family Photos

Avoid scheduling your session during nap time or right before dinner. This goes for a child of any age! Heck, it might even apply to some adults! A well-rested, well-fed child is much more likely to be cheerful and engaged. Morning or just after nap time typically works best for most families. This helps ensure that children will be in the right mindset to play and just be themselves, rather than let hunger or being tired get in the way.

3. Let Them Be Silly

Forget forcing smiles—natural joy comes from genuine interaction. And if being silly isn’t something that comes naturally to you, then just follow my cues. I’ll often ask kids during family photos to tell me a silly joke, jump around, or whisper something to their parents. When they’re playing and laughing, that’s when the magic happens. Making your kids practice saying “cheese” isn’t going to encourage those smiles and giggles that you want to have documented. So remember to just be yourselves!

4. Bring a Familiar Toy or Snack

A favorite stuffed animal or comfort snack can work wonders in calming nerves or redirecting attention. Just keep snacks mess-free and toys soft or small enough to blend into the scene. Bringing your child’s favorite soccer ball or a sticky sucker to put in their mouth wouldn’t be ideal. But, something like a Matchbox car that could easily be hidden in a pocket or behind the back would be perfect!

5. Don’t Bribe Too Early

Bribes can backfire if introduced too soon. Keep your special treat or promise of ice cream as a backup reward after the session. Mention it only if things go off track and you need a reset. If you start out your session with the promise of something when it’s over, you don’t have a lot of bargaining room when things start go get rough! So use the bribe sparingly and not at the beginning of your session.

Final Thoughts
Kids don’t need to be perfectly posed or smile on command. The best family photos come from real moments—giggles, snuggles, and all. Your job is to show up with love and presence. I’ll take care of the rest!

LET’S CREATE SOMETHING UNFORGETTABLE!

Alissa is an award-winning brand, maternity, newborn and family photographer + documentary filmmaker in Austin, Texas. She serves the Austin and surrounding areas.

If you are interested in a maternity, newborn or family session with Alissa Cordoba Photography you can find all of the details here and full pricing information here. You can contact Alissa here or email her directly at alissa@alissacordoba.com