As the holidays are quickly approaching, many moms are steeling their nerves, bribing their kids, and sending up prayers for smiles in preparation for their family portrait session. But y’all, I swear to you, it DOES NOT have to be like that!

Here are 3 tips to help you not only survive, but truly enjoy your family portrait session, and get photos you’ll love for years and years to come:

1. Bring your family’s personality! Do y’all love to drink hot chocolate together when the weather starts to turn cooler? Bring a thermos & some cute mugs! Love to play board games? Set out a comfy blanket & get to playing! If singing & dancing are regular family-favorite activities, go on ahead and bust a move! The point is, don’t be afraid to bring in aspects that reflect your family & the season of life you’re currently in together.
2. Focus on each other! Family portraits don’t just have to be “Alright, everyone look right here & smile!” Focusing on each other (and whatever you’re doing together) creates such real emotion & connection in the photographs. You can really see the way you are as a family, and those make for some of the most cherished shots!
3. Build it up to the kiddos! When you start the session with bribery & threats, it makes your kiddos think that getting photographed is something to endure, rather than something they should be looking forward to! If you’re going to go to an ice cream shop as part of your shoot, let them know that’s part of it & isn’t conditional based on their cooperation. Let them know you’ll be playing & having fun as a family, and although they may be asked to smile at the camera at least once, they probably won’t even notice in the midst of the fun.

BONUS TIP: If you’ve picked a photographer who has a photographic style you love AND you click with their personality, that’s a huge step in the right direction to not only getting final images you love, but loving the process too. Being able to enjoy the company of the person photographing you & your family can make a world of difference!

So y’all go out there & have the most fun you’ve ever had getting your pictures taken, and get some images that your family will look back at with joyful memories for years to come!