If you’re preparing for a family photoshoot, you’re probably wondering what to expect — especially if it’s your first time. Will your children cooperate? What should everyone wear? Will the photos turn out well?
I’ve photographed hundreds of families over the years, and so many parents tell me they were worrying about something in advance of the session.
The main things that people worry about are: Will my children behave? What if they won’t stand still? What should we wear? Will I look good in the photos? Is my house tidy enough?
I completely understand why these things feel important. You want the session to go well, and you want photos you’ll actually love. But honestly? The things you worry about before your family photoshoot rarely matter in the way you think they will.
So let me walk you through the common worries — and what actually ends up mattering in the photos.
“What if my children won’t behave? What if they won’t stand still?”
Here’s the thing: they don’t need to.
I’ve photographed children with all sorts of personalities. Confident ones, cautious ones, noisy ones, shy ones, determined ones, the slow-to-warm-up ones. What works for one child won’t work for another, and that’s exactly why I adapt to each family.
My job is to figure out what makes your child tick and find a way to make it feel fun. You just need to join in with the process.
One of the reasons I love photographing families outdoors is that there’s lots of space for children to run and climb and play. At all of my favourite locations — those where I’m shooting regularly such as Ashridge Estate, or further afield across Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Chesham and beyond — there are places for children to play. I don’t need them to stand perfectly still for ages staring at the camera. A quick glance in my direction is often all it takes.
Grown ups who come ready to get involved make a huge difference too. You don’t need to perform or force anything, but your willingness to join in — to play, cuddle, walk, or laugh alongside your children — really helps. I’ll guide you the whole way.
What actually helps: Make sure everyone’s well-fed before we start. And I mean well-fed. Lots more snacks than normal. Full tummies help people feel good. For the children and for the adults. Sessions feel so much easier when no one’s running on empty.
And yes, sessions can feel a bit chaotic. I have two very energetic boys myself, so trust me, I’m used to it. That energy, that movement, that unpredictability? That’s often where the real moments happen.
“What if they get dirty?”
Please don’t worry about this.
If we’re outdoors, clothes are going to get dusty. Knees will get muddy. Hems will get a bit crumpled. You either won’t see it in the final images, or honestly, you just won’t notice it — because it doesn’t matter.
What does matter about clothes: that they fit you well, that you feel comfortable in them, and that you can move easily and forget about your outfit once we get going.
But here’s the truth — the photos that matter aren’t about perfect outfits. They’re about the connection and the people in them.
I always take a “safety shot” early on when everyone still looks lovely, calm, and relatively clean. That gives us the classic family portrait. And then we can relax and let things unfold naturally.
If you have very small children, it’s never a bad idea to throw a spare outfit in the car. We may not need it, but it’s reassuring to have just in case.
“Will I look good in the photos?”
Right. This is an important one. That is my job to worry about, not yours.
We all look terrible if we’re caught at exactly the wrong moment. Even Beyoncé — which is why those unflattering photos of her exist as internet memes.
I know what I’m watching for, I know when to click, and I delete the photos you never need to see. You’ll never be shown images where you’re mid-blink, mid-sentence, or pulling a weird face. They simply don’t make it through to you.
But please — and I mean this — get in the photos.
Your children won’t remember if you thought you looked tired that day. They won’t care if your hair wasn’t quite right or if you didn’t love what you were wearing. What they’ll remember, what they’ll treasure, is that you were there with them.
That’s also why I encourage grandparents to get involved, not just come along to carry the coats. Your photos aren’t just for now — they’re for the years ahead, when the people in them might not be here anymore.
“Is my house tidy enough?” (for lifestyle newborn sessions at home)
I’ve been there. I’m still there. I get it.
Most of the home sessions I do are lifestyle newborn sessions, and I understand that having a newborn means your house probably isn’t in pristine show-home condition. That’s completely normal.
Here’s the thing — I want to capture the environment you’re living in at that moment. Those details are part of the story of that stage of your life — fleeting, exhausting, and incredibly precious. But we can move stuff around as needed. I do this at nearly every shoot — shifting toys out of the way, tidying a corner, clearing space on the sofa. It’s just part of the process.
I’m not looking for a pristine show home. I’m looking for the spaces where you actually live.
So what actually matters?
If all of that doesn’t matter, then what does?
Connection. The way your child leans into you. The way they reach for your hand without thinking. The glances between siblings. The moment a parent and child catch each other’s eye and smile.
You being yourselves. Not performing, not posing, not trying to be perfect — just being. The way you naturally are together when no one’s watching. That’s what I’m looking for.
Real moments over perfect moments. The in-between bits. The pause before the laugh. The distracted look. The messy hair and the muddy knees and the slightly chaotic energy of family life. Those are the details that make the photos feel true years later.
The story of right now. How old your children are at this exact moment. The way they move, the things they’re interested in, their personalities coming through. That’s what you’ll want to look back on — not whether everyone was standing still or looking at the camera.
That’s what shows up in the photos. That’s what you’ll come back to years later.
Everything else? We’ll figure it out on the day.
If you’re thinking about booking a family photoshoot and have questions I haven’t covered here, just get in touch. I’m always happy to talk things through before you book.