bright and natural color Large group of kids together in the fall in southern utah.

You've booked your session, chosen your location, and sorted out everyone's outfits. Now comes the part that makes most parents a little nervous: actually getting your kids to cooperate on the day.

Here's the truth — kids don't need to be perfect for photos to turn out beautifully. In fact, some of my favorite images come from the moments nobody planned. But a little preparation goes a long way toward making the session feel easy and fun rather than stressful. Here's what I've learned after photographing families of all ages and sizes.

Start with honest, low-pressure conversations

Tell your kids about the session ahead of time, but keep it light. "We're going to go take some fun pictures outside" lands much better than "you need to smile and behave perfectly." Kids pick up on parental anxiety faster than almost anything else — if you're stressed about how they'll act, they'll sense it and respond to it.

For younger kids, framing it as an adventure or an outing rather than a formal event helps enormously. For older kids and teens, being honest that it won't take all day and that they get some say in how things look (poses, expressions, whether they want silly shots) can go a long way toward getting them on board rather than eye rolls.

Don't bribe with the wrong things

Food bribes right before a session are a classic mistake — a sugar rush followed by a crash is not what you want mid-shoot. If you want to use a treat as motivation, save it for after. The promise of something fun following the session (ice cream, a favorite activity) is a much more reliable motivator than a pre-session snack that spikes energy at the wrong moment.

One treat worth avoiding during a fall session specifically is ice cream between shots — as tempting as it sounds, it tends to get messy fast and the cold actually makes little ones shivery and uncomfortable, which shows up on camera in ways that are hard to work around. Stick to a small, tidy snack if you need something mid-session, and save the ice cream celebration for after we're done.

Make sure everyone is fed and rested

This one sounds obvious but gets forgotten more often than you'd think. A hungry toddler and a tired teenager are two of the most reliable ways to derail a session. Schedule your session at a time when your youngest child is typically at their best — not during nap time, not right before dinner, not after a long day of school and activities.

Dress them comfortably and let them move

We covered outfit specifics in the what to wear post, but the most important thing for kids specifically is that they can actually move in what they're wearing. Stiff, scratchy, or restrictive clothing makes kids fidgety and uncomfortable, and that shows in photos. If your child has a strong opinion about their outfit, pick your battles — a kid who feels good in what they're wearing photographs far better than a kid who's been wrestled into something they hate.

Layer for the temperature

Fall sessions in southern Utah can start warm and cool down fast, especially at higher elevations like Cedar Mountain or Pine Valley. Bring layers your kids can wear between shots — a cozy cardigan, a soft flannel, a light jacket in a coordinating color. A cold, uncomfortable child is a miserable child, and miserable children do not make for joyful portraits. Equally, avoid heavy winter coats that look out of place on camera — the goal is warm enough to be happy, not bundled beyond recognition.

Bring a comfort item for little ones

For babies and toddlers especially, having a familiar toy, lovey, or comfort object on hand can make a real difference when energy starts to flag or nerves kick in. I'll often use these as props or distractions at just the right moment to get a genuine expression rather than a forced smile.

Let teens have some ownership

Teenagers are the wildcard of family sessions — they're old enough to have opinions and young enough to be self-conscious, which is a challenging combination. The best thing you can do is give them some ownership over the experience. Let them suggest a pose, choose whether they want individual shots, or bring something that feels like them (a favorite jacket, a book, something personal). When teens feel seen rather than just directed, the results are always better.

One practical styling tip that makes a real difference: if your teen is particular about what they wear, consider planning the whole family's outfits around their choice first. Start with what makes them feel most confident and coordinate everyone else around that. A teen who loves how they look is a teen who actually wants to be in the photos — and that energy shows up in every single frame.

Trust the process — and trust me

I've been called a chaos coordinator for a reason. Wiggly toddlers, grumpy teenagers, kids who won't look at the camera — I've seen all of it, and I know how to work with it rather than against it. Some of the most beautiful family portraits I've ever taken happened in the middle of what felt like total chaos to the parents in the moment.

Your only job on session day is to show up, be present with your family, and let go of the idea that everything needs to go perfectly. It doesn't. Real moments are better than perfect ones — and that's exactly what we're here to capture.

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Book your fall session here and let's make something real and beautiful together.