7 Family Photo Tips That Make the Whole Experience Actually Fun

To be honest, family photos can feel like a lot. You’re coordinating outfits, wrangling kids, hoping your husband doesn’t give his “I’d rather be anywhere else” face, and trying to look effortlessly beautiful through all of it. I get it. After photographing families since 2012, and spending years before that as an elementary school educator, I’ve heard every concern and seen every scenario. The good news? A little preparation goes a long way. These family photo tips will help your session feel less like a chore and more like a really good evening out with the people you love most.

Tip 1: Start With the Right Photographer

This one matters more than anything else on this list.

The right photographer can make or break how a session goes. You don’t want to spend your time, energy, and money on an experience that feels awkward, rushed, or misaligned with your vision.

Look for someone whose style you genuinely love. Check their reviews carefully. A photographer with a consistent stream of glowing feedback, especially from clients who mention how easy the experience was, is a strong signal.

Your experience is the priority. You should feel guided every step of the way, not left guessing.

Of course, I would love to be your Oklahoma City family photographer. I am very proud and honored to have many amazing Google Reviews and clients that return to me year after year. Your experience is my top priority and I will guide you through every step of the way.

Tip 2: Choose Your Location Before You Choose Your Outfits

Out of all the family photo tips, this one surprises families the most. Yet it makes so much sense once you think about it.

Your location should really set the tone for your whole look and feel. A session in Automobile Alley with bright colored murals calls for something totally different than a session at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Your clothing should match your location, and it’s easiest to get a vision for the session by choosing our location first.

A few things to consider:

• Urban settings offer variety, movement, and fun backgrounds. Great for older kids who need something to do.
  
• Natural or park settings have a timeless, classic feel. When my kids were little, we spent so much time outside at parks and exploring that it felt natural to photograph our own family in those spaces.
  
• A meaningful location – like a favorite park your family visits all the time – can add a personal layer that makes the images feel even more special.

I have a detailed guide called The Ultimate List of Places to Take Photos in OKC that walks through some of my favorite spots, including the pros and cons of each. It’s a great starting point if you’re feeling stuck.

Tip 3: Take the Stress Out of Getting Dressed

Coordinating outfits for an entire family is one of the things I hear moms stress about most. So I took that off the table.

Every client gets access to a complimentary online styling service that helps you pull together a look for every single person in your family, every size, every price point, with easy links to shop online. You’ll get a full style board so there’s no second-guessing.

You also receive a detailed guidebook with family photo tips you probably haven’t thought of yet.

Clients tell me this is one of their favorite perks of working together. And honestly, it makes me happy to hear it because you have enough to think about already.

Tip 4: Plan Your Meals Around the Session

This family photo tip is so practical and so often overlooked.

Adults lose patience when they’re hungry. Kids will completely fall apart if they’re focused on a snack instead of having fun. So depending on your session timing, plan for a solid meal or a filling snack beforehand.

You’re also welcome to bring snacks for little ones during the session. Just choose wisely. Cheetos are not your friend here (ha).

And everyone, kids and adults alike, should bring a bottle of water. All that smiling and laughing will make you thirstier than you expect.

Tip 5: Arrive Early

For urban sessions especially, parking can take longer than you think.

Stress over traffic or a scramble to find parking is one of the fastest ways to start a session on the wrong foot. Give yourself plenty of time to park, walk to the meeting spot, and take a breath before we begin.

Arriving a few minutes early means you walk in calm, not frazzled. That energy carries right into your photos.

Tip 6: Let Loose and Just Have Fun

Seriously. This is the whole point.

About 95% of our session time is about having fun, playing, and just being your family. The other 5% is for looking at the camera and smiling. And I promise you, the photos you’ll love the most won’t be the posed ones.

It’ll be the wrestling match between your boys. The way your little one’s face lights up. The genuine laugh your husband lets out when he finally relaxes.

Session time is a great time to ease up on discipline and let your kids be kids. Those unscripted moments are pure gold for me as a photographer.

Tip 7: Actually Do Something With Your Photos

This family photo tip is close to my heart.

After all the preparation, the fun session, and the beautiful gallery, please don’t let your photos sit on a hard drive. Print them. Put them on your wall. Put them in an album.

Photos printed and displayed in your home are a completely different experience than a folder on your desktop. They become part of your daily life. Your kids see themselves loved and celebrated every single day.

Every session with me includes both digital images and a print credit so you can actually get fine art quality photos into your home without any extra hassle.

Time flies. These seasons with your kids are short. You deserve to have them on your wall, not buried in a folder.

Your Session Should Feel Like a Good Night Out

That’s what I want for every family I photograph. Not stressful. Not rushed. Just a really good experience that results in images you’ll cherish for decades. The photos I have framed in my home (dozens of them, ha!) are all of WONDERFUL memories. I look at them and am transported right back to the exact moment they were taken. I want your photo experience with me to be a delightful memory. 

I’ve been doing this since 2012 and I’ve poured everything I learned in the classroom and behind the lens into making this process as easy and enjoyable as possible for families just like yours.

If you’re ready to book or just want to talk through what a session looks like, I’d love to hear from you.

Happy looks good on you!