How to Prepare Your Kids for a Fun and Stress-Free Photo Session:A Complete Parent's Guide

I've been photographing families for ten years. In that time I've learned that the single biggest factor in how a session goes isn't the light, or the location, or even whether the kids are in a good mood. It's how relaxed the parents are.

Children read the room. If you walk into the studio wound up and focused on getting a perfect shot, they'll sense it immediately. If you arrive calm, treat the whole thing like a bit of an adventure, and give them permission to be themselves — that's when the magic happens.

Here's everything I'd tell you before a session.

Timing matters more than you'd think

Don't book a session around nap time if you can avoid it. A tired toddler who hasn't slept will make the whole experience harder for everyone, including them. If your child naps in the morning, schedule after. If they're an afternoon napper, come in the morning when they're fresh.

For school-age kids this matters less, but energy levels still apply. A session after a full day of school and football training is going to be harder than one on a relaxed Saturday morning.

What to wear — and what to skip

Comfortable always beats smart. A child in an itchy collar or shoes that pinch will spend the whole session trying to escape their outfit rather than enjoying themselves.

Stick to clothes they've worn before. Photo day is not the time to debut a new dress or shirt they haven't broken in. Soft layers, colours they like, nothing with a huge logo across the chest. Let their personality show through — that matters far more than matching. We've put together a full guide to what to wear for your family session on our families page if you want more detail on this.

Same for you. Whatever you feel genuinely comfortable in is the right choice.

Talk about it beforehand — casually

Don't build it up too much, but do mention it in the days before. Not "you need to be good for the photographer" — that creates pressure. More like "we're going to meet Kevin and Annie and have a bit of a play around the studio." You can see what we're like on our meet the team page if you want to show the kids a friendly face before they arrive.

For little ones, the camera can be a novelty. We often let kids look through it, see themselves on the screen, become co-conspirators in the whole thing. That shift — from subject to participant — makes an enormous difference.Parents: Your Role is Crucial

To parents, I always say: your energy is contagious. If you're stressed, your children will sense it. If you're playful, open, and relaxed, they'll mirror that spirit.

Bring their stuff

A favourite toy, a snack they love, a comfort item. All welcome. We take breaks when we need to, there's no rush, and having something familiar in the room helps children settle faster than anything else we can do.

For a full rundown of exactly what to bring and what to expect on the day, our pre-shoot info page covers everything in one place.

For babies: schedule around feeds. A full, well-rested baby is the best possible version of a baby. Bring everything you'd normally bring for an afternoon out.

On the day

Stay home as long as you can before the session. Avoid over-stimulating mornings — soft play and then straight to the studio tends not to work well. A calm, unhurried start to the day makes a real difference.

When you arrive, let them explore the space before we get going. We're not racing to get the camera out. The first few minutes are just about getting comfortable.

And when things don't go to plan — when someone cries, or refuses, or decides they want absolutely nothing to do with any of this — that's fine. Some of the most real, honest, beautiful photographs I've taken have come from exactly those moments. A child burying their face in their parent's shoulder. A toddler mid-meltdown with a mum who's trying not to laugh. That's real life, and real life is what we're here to capture.

What you don't need to do

You don't need to manage them from behind the camera. You don't need to say "smile" or "look here" or promise treats for cooperation. You don't need to apologise when they don't perform on cue. Just be with them. That's genuinely all we need from you.

The photographs that matter — the ones that end up on walls and get passed down — are the ones where you can feel the connection. Not the ones where everyone is looking at the camera in the right direction. If you want a sense of how we actually work during a session, have a read of Capturing Real Moments in a Studio — it'll give you a good feel for the kind of day we're trying to create together.

Trust the process. We've done this a few times. And if you've got any questions before your session, get in touch — we're always happy to chat through how it all works.