Fall busy season is in full swing here in Ohio and that means it’s time to talk about how to get the most out of your family photo session with little ones!

Here are my top 5 tips for family photos with young kids:

Choose a slow day that does not have a packed schedule. You want them to be as well-rested as possible and ready to participate in the photo experience!
Snacks! Pack some of their favorite (not super messy!) snacks and bring them along during the session. Don’t forget the water or juice, too!
Push back nap time. If your session is at sunset and you are worried that they will not be able to stay up late, I highly recommend pushing back their nap time that day. (AND see number 1) If you are looking for earlier session times, try to schedule a sunset session in September or October. Sunrise sessions are also an option (and did you know that sunrise is close to 8am at the end of October and the first weekend in November?! Not tooooo bad.. right?!)
Follow their lead. Once we get posed photos out of the way, I love letting them explore the setting we are in. Small breaks like this between poses can really help take the pressure off of them.
Keep the mood positive! Kids pick up on our emotions.. try to keep a positive, upbeat attitude - there WILL be things that do not go as planned and that is OK! We roll with it and keep moving.

BONUS TIP: Hype them up for the photoshoot! In the weeks and days leading up to the session, start telling them the plan! Tell them about your friend, Erika and how much FUN we are going to have at the park taking pictures. If you act excited, they will get excited, too!