There’s a version of family photos most of us grew up with. Everyone lined up by height. Matching outfits. A photographer counting down from three while a four-year-old is bribed with a promise of ice cream just to hold still for one more second.
Those photos have their place. But they’re not what I do.
I still believe in heirloom photography — the kind of images your kids will pull out of a drawer in thirty years and hand to their own children. I just don’t believe you have to make anyone sit still to get there.
Why “Sit Still” Is the Wrong Goal
Here’s the thing about kids: the second you ask them to freeze, you lose them. The real smile disappears. The shoulders go stiff. What you get instead is a photo that looks like every other posed family portrait — technically fine, but nothing like the kid you actually know at home.
The moments people actually treasure aren’t the still ones. They’re a toddler mid-giggle because dad just spun her around. A sibling piggyback ride that’s about to tip over. A kid who wandered three steps out of the “shot” to poke at a puddle, caught in the exact second they looked back and laughed. Those images hold more of your child’s real personality than any lineup ever could — and that’s what makes them heirlooms in the first place.
What an Un-Traditional Studio Session Actually Looks Like
Instead of building a session around poses, I build it around movement. That might mean:
- Admiring some beautiful flowers
- Playing in the curtains
- Jumping on the bed
- Letting a toddler explore a location on their own terms while I stay ready with the camera
- Piggyback rides, tickle fights, and spinning games worked in as the actual photo opportunity, not a break between them
- Following a kid’s energy instead of fighting it — if they want to run, we shoot the run
Yes, I still offer direction but it comes in the form of suggestions. They feel less pressure and you get the photos you want without them realizing they “performed.”
Why This Works Better for Real Families
Every family has at least one kid who won’t cooperate with a traditional setup — the one who bolts, the one who won’t smile on command, the one who’s mid-tantrum by minute ten of standing in place. An un-traditional session isn’t a workaround for that kid. It’s built for that kid from the start.
It also tends to relax the parents, which matters more than people expect. When you’re not stressed about getting your child to comply, you show up more like yourself too — and some of the best images from a session are the ones where a parent forgot the camera was even there.
What to Expect at Your Session
Locations that give kids room to move. Open, low-distraction spots — a field, a park path, your own backyard — work better than tight, formal backdrops. Kids need somewhere to actually go.
A loose plan, not a rigid one. I usually have a few ideas going in, but the session bends around your child’s mood that day. If they’re having a big-feelings kind of afternoon, we adjust rather than push through.
Short sessions for little ones. Toddlers especially don’t have a long runway. We move quickly enough that we’re done before anyone’s patience runs out.
You, in the frame. Parents are always welcome — and often end up being the reason a shy kid loosens up in the first place.
Preparing Your Family
You still want your family to look pulled-together in the photos — that part hasn’t changed. A few things that help:
- Comfortable clothes in soft, solid colors so nothing distracts from faces and expressions
- Skip anything itchy, stiff, or brand new that hasn’t been “broken in”
- Feed everyone beforehand — a hungry toddler is nobody’s friend on session day
- Keep the pitch simple: “We’re going to go play and take some pictures.” No big buildup, no pressure
FAQ
Will my kid still need to look at the camera? Some of the time, sure — but most of the best shots happen when they’re not looking at it at all.
What if my child has a meltdown mid-session? It happens, and it’s not a problem. We slow down, take a break, and let the session breathe. Nothing here is on a strict clock.
Can I request a few traditional posed shots too? Absolutely. Un-traditional doesn’t mean no posed photos — it just means they’re not the whole session, and they’re never forced.
Book Your Un-Traditional Heirloom Session
If you’ve been putting off family photos because your kids don’t do well with the standard setup, this is the answer. Heirloom-quality images, without a single “just hold still” required.
Reach out to schedule a chat about your family and set up a session that actually works for the kids you have.
