While photographing over 100 families a year, I get to hear a lot about professional photography from the clients’ perspectives. Many of the statements I hear surprise me at first. Today I’d like to chat about one of the most common family photography myths I have come across over the last five years in business.

Family Photography Myth #1: My kids are too active/crazy/busy, we could never handle a full-length photo session.

I cannot count how many times inquiring families have told me that they need a mini-session because their children ‘can’t handle a full session’. Theoretically, I can understand why this myth exists.

Parents think, “my child is crazy/active/doesn’t listen but we need family photos, let’s get them done and over with as quickly as possible”.

I am here to tell you that the exact opposite is true. Crazy right? I want to spend more time, a full hour in fact, with your crazy-active-rambunctious child.

Active, Shy, Rambunctious, and Energetic Children Need More Time to Loosen Up and Be Themselves.

When you decide to book a short or “mini” family session, you are putting a lot of extra pressure on yourself and your child. You *need* everyone to cooperate very quickly. There is no time to play, explore, or get wiggles out. Shy children who need time to warm up to a stranger don’t get that option.

Full-Length Sessions Offer Time To Relax

An hour long session is not an hour straight of me asking your child to pose. What an hour long session enables me to do is grab the beautiful and happy moments as they come naturally. It’s low-pressure for everyone! If your child needs to run, they can run. We can take time to get a great portrait of mom and dad. We can take time to play a game. I can keep your child happy and engaged.

The Best Shots are Never in the First 15 Minutes.

Unless your child *knows* me and/or is instantly comfortable with strangers (most are not), the best shots do not happen in the first portion of our session. The first part is about getting to know each other and getting your child relaxed and having fun. Once we get to that point, the magic happens! Even parents need time to warm up– trust me!

Of All the Family Photography Myths, This is the One I want You to Understand.

Give that kiddo of yours the time to explore, relax, and be themselves! Authentic expressions can’t really be coerced. If you are a “serial” mini-session booker for this reason, you might really be surprised! I encourage you to try a different tactic this year. Give yourselves the gift of time to connect.

So WHO is a good candidate for a Mini-Session?

Mini-sessions have sort of become a cult following thing in the photography world. I am of the opinion that they can be very challenging for the average-to-more-active child. For the most part, here are the best candidates for a mini-session photographer:

• You have one child between the ages of 5 months and 11 months who is not very mobile and generally very happy-go-lucky
• You have all children 6 and older who are very sociable and people describe as “easy”
• You only want to update a photograph of the whole family every year and are not interested in different combinations, more connection-based photography, or creative compositions.

Photographers, can you think of any other family photography myths? Comment below with one you hear often!

XO- Lyndsay

PS- this gorgeous family was photographed at Webb Memorial State Park !