Why I Don't Ask Children to Smile at the Camera
One of the questions parents sometimes ask before a session is,
"What if my children won't smile?"
My answer usually surprises them.
I don't expect them to.
Of course, if a child looks at the camera and gives me a joyful grin, I'll happily photograph it.
But those aren't the moments I'm chasing.
I'm looking for something deeper.
Children Already Know How to Be Themselves
Children don't wake up thinking about creating beautiful photographs.
They wake up wanting to build forts.
Read books.
Climb into your lap.
Carry their favorite stuffed animal from room to room.
Ask for another pancake.
Run barefoot through the backyard.
That's childhood.
And that's what I want to remember.
The Best Moments Can't Be Directed
Some of my favorite photographs happen between the moments people think are important.
Your daughter reaches for your hand without thinking.
Your son leans against your shoulder while you read a book.
Everyone bursts into laughter because the family dog decides to join in.
Nobody is looking at the camera.
Nobody is trying to create the perfect photograph.
They're simply together.
Those are often the images families treasure most.
You Don't Need to Worry About Your Children
One of the biggest concerns parents bring to a session is whether their children will "behave."
Please let that go.
Children don't need to perform for me.
They don't need to sit perfectly still.
They don't need to smile every time I lift the camera.
My job isn't to control your children.
It's to notice them.
To photograph who they are right now.
Curious.
Playful.
Quiet.
Busy.
Thoughtful.
Every child brings something different, and that's exactly as it should be.
The Goal Isn't Perfect Pictures
It's easy to think the goal of a family session is getting everyone looking at the camera with perfect smiles.
Those photographs have their place.
But when I imagine your family looking through these images twenty years from now, I don't think you'll linger on the most perfectly posed portrait.
I think you'll stop at the photograph that reminds you how your child held you close.
The one where everyone was laughing.
The one that feels like home.
Photographs That Feel Like Your Family
Whether we're spending the morning making pancakes in your kitchen, reading books in the living room, or exploring your backyard, I'm looking for the quiet moments that already exist.
The moments that don't need to be directed.
The ones that tell the truth about this season of your family's life.
Because years from now, I don't think your children will care whether they smiled perfectly at the camera.
I think they'll be grateful to see what life actually felt like.
If you're looking for family photographs that feel relaxed, honest, and full of genuine connection, I'd be honored to document your family exactly as you are. The goal has never been perfect smiles—it's preserving the moments you'll someday miss.
