Family | Melissa + Jose | Kennesaw, GA

When you're just two-and-a-half years old, sitting still for family photos can be hard.

Let's be real; sitting still for photos is hard for us adults too! With all the time and planning that goes into preparing for a family portrait session it can be tempting to worry, 'What if my kids won't sit still? What if they don't smile?'

The short answer?

They probably won't sit still and, if they're under five or over twelve, they almost certainly won't smile at me...at first.

'Wait, what?!?' Yep. But before you start to panic, take a deep breath. When I first arrive to a family session, I never expect kiddos to smile at me. Why would they? Even if we've met before, it's often been at least a few months since our last session and, for a little kid, that's a pretty long time. It typically takes at least a few minutes for them to warm up to me and for me to build that connection with them. Don't be surprised if I start playing peek-a-boo with your baby or kneel down low to chat with your toddler about their favorite animal or game before I even take the first photo!

"But Shanle," you say, "How can we get great photos if my four year old won't even sit still?" Well, the cool thing is that little kids like to move. And when they move, they tend to forget about the camera and smile. I love getting everyone else in place and then popping the littlest kiddos in place right at the last second and grabbing that beautiful photo in the 10 seconds before they're off again! If you have a particularly wiggly kiddo, action-based prompts and games are my secret weapon - they love them! (Psst! Those photos are often the parent's favorites out of the entire gallery!)

Here's the biggest key to a successful family session:

you, the parents.

If you are stressing over your toddler running around or being a bit shy (as toddlers are wont to do), they will feel that stress, and it will show in their faces and yours. If you're relaxed and take a second to breathe and enjoy the moment, they will feel that too. Trust me, I'm used to wiggly, active, or shy kiddos. (I have two of them myself!) It doesn't bother me one bit. All I need a one second to get a sweet portrait, like the ones of Melissa and Jose's family below.

The time for perfectly posed portraits without a single hair out of place will come later, so don't stress, mama. You've done the hard work of finding a photographer, scheduling a session, planning your outfits, and getting everyone to the session. Let me take it from here.