Sean Malone, Photographer

10 Tips for Parents | Important Stuff

1. Come relaxed, rested & fed.
You should come to your session well-rested and with well-fed children. We'll try to schedule sessions around your normal schedule, nap times, etc. If we're not able to, you may need to adjust your nap schedule for the littlest, or dinner time might have to be a couple hours early. It truly makes the world of difference if you plan your day to account for this.

2. Minimize the variables, stay focused on yourself.
Your job as parents is to relax and look at the camera and smile when we attempt the big group shot. When your photographer is doing his best to get the children’s attention, remember to keep your eye's on the camera rather than looking down at the kids! Your photographer's job is to get the kids to smile while checking whose head is turned or fingers are in mouth or phones are in pocket or glasses still on (reminder; leave your phone in the car, remove your glasses). Your job is to minimize the variables; so smile, naturally, and look at the camera! We'll do the rest or ask for help.

3. Get close!
When you stand next to each other, always be touching! Wrap your arms around each other or hold hands or lean your head against a family member. Even a few inches of space looks like a wide gap in a picture. Act like you like each other. Kids sitting on laps or standing with their arms around their parents legs or shoulders are natural poses. Your closeness and love for each other will shine through when you're close during the session.

4. No bribes.
Please do not bribe, threaten or coerce your children into smiling in any way. It never works. No genuine smile comes from that. We will help try to make it silly or playful in some way so your child smiles naturally. If you want to help (we all do), start a tickle fight, or say something silly that you know will makes everyone laugh. We live super busy lives... use this time to play!

5. Your job is not "Director"
Allow your photographer to interact with your child. Don’t answer for them or chime in your own thoughts. We needs to spend a few moments getting comfortable with your child and allowing her to get comfortable. We may ask questions about what things they like, about their teachers or friends, find something in common to chat about. It helps to break the ice, for a bit of a relationship, and allows us to get to know your child’s personality a little bit.

6. Walk away.
If you have older toddlers or elementary school children, allow us some space to work with them. If you disappear or hang back a bit, we can often work more easily with your child, especially siblings! Children will often goof off when their parents are around but won't dare misbehave with a stranger (just ask their teachers they are angels at school, right?!). We will sometimes take your child by the hand for a walk to a new location so that we can start fresh. Most of the time, children will relax and we capture the truest smiles that way!

7. Stay close!
If your child is between 1 and 2.5 years old, expect your session to be a lot of chasing him/her around. This age is the most unpredictable. Since reason and logic hasn't kicked in yet, we go with the flow and the best thing to do is to see where she wants to play, sit, or stand... then position yourselves around her for a group shot. When she moves, you move! Again, interact like you normally do, if that’s playing peek-a-boo or clapping, we’ll capture it and maybe a few smiles in the process!

8. With baby portraits, clue us in on what works, then walk away.
If you have a baby, allow us to interact with her. This is hard. If there is a particular thing that “works” – a game, a sound, a word, a song …tell us at the beginning of your session and allow us to try it. The goal will be to get the baby to look directly into the camera. If you are standing behind and at our left or right, even slightly, and calling your baby her to look up, she will only end up looking at you and that's what we'll see in photos. There are times when this is what we want, but generally we want your child looking right into the camera during the shoot.

9. Be prepared for your session.
If you have wee little ones, bringing a non messy snack (for babies: puffs, small cookies, etc) and a drink is essential! For older toddlers, a special snack (something a bit exciting even) might be just the thing, but again - no bribery. If your child has a lovey or special friend that you don’t mind being in some of the photos, it can be a great comfort to them.

10. Be yourselves and have fun.
The absolute best family photographs are those where the family is comfortable and connected. If you are silly, be silly during your session. If dad is the comedian, by all means, bring on the jokes! If your kids like to play Ring Around the Rosy (or Superheroes!) lets get to it early on in the session so that we can capture your family being you. After all, that’s what you want to remember in ten or twenty years, right?


Written by Kimberlin Gray Photography, tweaked by me.

Cliff Notes Version

  • Show up to your session well rested, well fed and ready to leave the work up to your photographer and have fun.
  • Parents – minimize the variables by 'focusing' on the camera with your relaxed smile.
  • Get close to your family!
  • No bribes, threats or coercion.
  • Allow us to interact with your children, and please don't direct them.
  • If you have older toddlers or elementary schoolers, we might take a little walk away. It can work wonders.
  • If you have 1 - 2 1/2 year old(s), expect much of the session to be following him/her around.
  • If you have a baby, though it's natural to interact with him/her, let your photographer do that.
  • Be prepared with clean snack, drink and anything comforting in case it's needed.
  • Just have fun with your family as though you're not there for a photo shoot.
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