How to Make Family Photo Shoots Fun
Helen Bartlett is a London-based family photographer with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in natural, relaxed, documentary-style black and white photography for families across London and the UK. A Canon Ambassador and multi-award-winning photographer, she has photographed thousands of families, from newborns to teenagers, over more than two decades. This guide shares her practical advice on how to make family photo shoots genuinely enjoyable for everyone involved, including reluctant teenagers and camera-shy parents.
A practical guide from family photographer Helen Bartlett on how to plan a fun, relaxed photo shoot that produces natural, joyful photographs, covering timing, activities, clothes, food, pets, grandparents, and what to expect from a full morning session.
Fun photo shoots for all the family
Many families are keen on the idea of having photographs on the wall, but the photo shoot itself fills them with dread. In this guide I’ll explain how to make family photo shoots genuinely fun – so that even the most reluctant teenager will enjoy themselves, and you will end up with relaxed, natural, happy photographs that everyone will love.
I’m Helen Bartlett, a family photographer with over 20 years’ experience working with children of all ages. In that time I’ve worked with thousands of families, many of them for over two decades with annual photo shoots, and won numerous awards for my work. Together we can create brilliant pictures that you and your children will treasure, and we will have a fantastic time along the way.
Start with what your family loves
The first questions I always ask are: what do you and your children enjoy – both together and separately? On a photo shoot we want to do as many of those things as possible, so that you have images which reflect your lives right now and so that everyone has fun while the pictures are being taken.
Children will often have different hobbies and interests and that is absolutely fine. We have a whole morning together, so there is plenty of time to make sure everyone has their moment in the spotlight.
Why an early start makes all the difference
I always start my photo shoots early and, while nobody loves an early alarm clock on a weekend morning, everyone loves having their pictures taken when there is nobody else around. Empty parks make everything much more relaxed, which is particularly important when photographing teenagers, who may feel self-conscious if there are other people about.
With younger children, energy levels are at their best first thing in the morning, so that post-breakfast slot gives us wonderful images before anyone gets tired. It also means we have the most beautiful light of the day entirely to ourselves.
How long does a family photo shoot take?
Sessions last a full morning, usually starting at around 8am and finishing around lunchtime. This works brilliantly because it gives us time to explore different activities, play different games, visit different locations (home and a park, for example), and it also builds in flexibility if something doesn’t go quite to plan.
We are working with children, after all, and occasionally we might need to regroup after a grazed knee or shelter from a rain shower. Having plenty of time means nothing is ever a problem. Because we are relaxed, we often find the most wonderful pictures in those unplanned moments of downtime.
If you’re thinking ‘but my children don’t have a long attention span’ and that’s actually fine. A short attention span works better with a longer shoot. On a short shoot everyone needs to be focused at all times, children need to cooperate and take direction to get the shots you want in a limited time frame. With more time it’s more fluid, more relaxed, and the pictures are almost always better.
Sometimes a parent will say ‘I don’t want to have my pictures taken’ and I’ll ask: ‘If you were just hanging out with your kids today, what would you want to do?’ And then that’s what we do. It needs to be fun and it needs to work for everyone. Often the things a reluctant parent suggests make the best pictures of the whole shoot: ‘I don’t want to pose for photos, I just want to splash around with the kids in the pool.’ Well, yes. Let’s do that – the things you enjoy make the best pictures.
Sessions with Babies: Newborns to First Steps
Sessions with babies are always great fun. Whether you are getting to know your tiny newborn, enjoying snuggles with your four-month-old, watching your eight-month-old learn to crawl, or capturing your one-year-old’s first tentative steps, these sessions are always a delight.
To ensure family photography sessions with babies are fun for everyone, we work around their normal routines, keeping to naptimes and taking breaks for feeds whenever needed. There is no rush and no pressure; if baby needs a rest, we rest too. If you have older children, they often love some one-on-one time with their parents and a moment in the spotlight while the little one sleeps.
With babies I love to split the session between outdoors and home. There is such a wonderful contrast between pictures of your little one exploring the natural world and then snuggling in your duvet, rolling around on your bed. Bubbles, books, balls, and music all work beautifully when photographing babies: all the things you already love to do together. Memories are what it’s all about.
Including pets: dogs, cats, ponies, and more
Pets always bring a wonderful additional dynamic to a family photo shoot and can be particularly magical when photographing older children and teenagers. Playing with a family dog, cat, pony, or whatever beloved animal is part of your household adds a charming layer to proceedings, and everyone relaxes when they’re with their pets.
Playing chase, throwing a ball, or simply snuggling with a furry companion: pictures with pets are delightful and certain to be treasured as time goes by.
Grandparents: a wonderful addition to any family photography session
Grandparents are a very welcome addition to a family photo shoot and will often join the session halfway through the morning. We can start early with the immediate family and then have grandparents arrive a little later, as the new faces bring new energy to the day, and pictures of children with their grandparents are always among the most precious we take.
The key question, as always, is: what do the children love to do with their grandparents? With younger children it might be snuggling on the sofa to read a book, or a game of hide and seek. With older children there might be skills passed down through the generations: a treasured recipe, a love of chess, or a shared passion for cryptic crosswords. We are always aiming for meaningful images with real memories, and whatever your family does together is the natural starting point.
How to make family photo shoots fun? Games, sports, and the magic of a little rivalry
At every age, games create wonderful natural interactions, and I find this particularly true when children and grandparents are together. A little friendly competition allows everyone to relax into the moment and forget the camera entirely, and there is always a certain hilarity when grandparents interpret the rules with creative freedom.
Families often play the same games on holiday that we end up including in a photo shoot: Monopoly Deal played in a trattoria in Spain, Dobble while waiting at Heathrow. Chess is always a favourite, and it’s wonderful to see that classic game passing between generations: the delight the children take in beating their parents absolutely hands down.
Choosing clothes: practical advice for a fun session
To ensure everyone is in a good mood on photo shoot day, it’s important that everyone loves what they are wearing. And to make sure you love the pictures and want to hang them on the wall afterwards, it’s important you love your children’s choices too.
Sometimes there are compromises to be made. We might start the session in outfits where there has been some parental input, then end with teenagers showing their own style and younger children dressed as superheroes. This can work beautifully: everyone gets to express their personality, and you end up with a wonderful variety of images to treasure as time passes.
The key practical rules: avoid clothes with words or slogans on them (you always read the words before looking at faces), plain colours work better than busy patterns, and you do not need to match unless that’s genuinely how you normally dress. Choose clothes that feel timeless, that you’re comfortable in, and that you like how you look in.
For shoes: comfort is everything. You will be walking, running, possibly climbing a tree. Photo shoot day is not the day to try new shoes or your highest heels. Be comfortable, be yourself, and be ready for anything.
When thinking how to make family photo shoots fun – remember, no activity is too unusual
As long as it’s safe and legal, I’m up for pretty much any activity the children enjoy. If you tell me ‘they’re playing in a polo match after the session’ or ‘my child loves being on the water’: I am there for you.
I love photographing active things: sports, gymnastics, even swimming. I do have an underwater camera case which I can bring along if organised in advance. And I love the quieter activities just as much: painting, reading, baking. All of these work wonderfully in family photographs and are genuinely fun to do during the session.
Keep everyone fed: the importance of a good breakfast
Low blood sugar is the enemy of a great family photo shoot. People get grumpy very quickly when they’re hungry, and keeping energy levels topped up throughout the morning makes a genuine difference, both to how much everyone enjoys the day and to how good the pictures are.
Eat a good breakfast before your session, even if you don’t normally eat first thing. Even a banana or a slice of toast makes a real difference. Make sure younger children and teenagers have a proper breakfast before we head out. You will be very glad you did.
The in-between moments: where the magic often happens
One of the great advantages of a full morning’s photo shoot is that we have time for the in-between moments too. We’ll often have a break mid-morning for a snack and a drink, and these pauses can produce some of the most wonderful photographs of the day, as everyone relaxes and forgets the camera for a little while.
A small child looking in wonder at a giant biscuit. A parent gazing at their child while they rest with a well-earned cup of coffee. A grandparent reading quietly to a tired toddler on the sofa. By giving ourselves time, we open up these opportunities, and they are the images that families often treasure most of all.
Have fun – it really is that simple
Family photo shoots are genuinely great fun. Bring a positive attitude and a sense of humour, and things will go brilliantly. Think in advance, and discuss with your children, what they want to include, whether that’s a particular activity, a pet, grandparents, or a favourite top. They will have opinions, and their ideas will almost always work beautifully for photographs.
Even if an idea doesn’t quite translate, we have plenty of time and we can still include it for a little while, so everyone knows it is a collaboration and they have a real say in the session. This makes a particularly big difference with teenagers, and it almost always produces the best pictures of the day. A little bit of thought about how to make your family photo shoot fun before the day will make a huge difference to your pictures. Ask your children – what do they want to remember?
Frequently asked questions about family photo shoots
Sessions last a full morning, typically from around 8am to lunchtime. This gives us time to work across different locations (home and a park, for example), include various activities, and still have breathing room if we need to adapt to the weather or a tired toddler. There is never any sense of rush. Sessions with young children often include a break for a baby’s nap, sessions with teenagers are often a little shorter but ‘a morning’ is a good guide.
Absolutely – I love including animals and they often produce the most memorable photographs of the whole session. Dogs, cats, ponies, chickens, even a tarantula have all appeared in my shoots over the years. The key is simply planning enough time so that animals can be included naturally rather than forced.
Grandparents are always a wonderful addition and often join the session partway through the morning. We can start early with the immediate family and have grandparents arrive later, which works beautifully, as the fresh faces bring new energy and the multi-generational photographs are always among the most treasured.
I always recommend starting at around 8am. Early starts give us the best natural light of the day, empty locations, and for teenagers especially, none of the self-consciousness that comes from having an audience. With younger children, energy levels are also at their highest first thing, which makes a real difference to the pictures.
Avoid clothes with words or logos (the eye is always drawn to text before faces), choose plain colours over busy patterns, and wear something you’re genuinely comfortable in. You don’t need to match unless that’s how you normally dress. Comfort is the most important thing: you’ll be walking, running, and possibly climbing. I’ve written a full guide to what to wear for a family photo shoot if you’d like more detail.
Absolutely. I travel throughout the UK and regularly photograph families in Surrey, Hampshire, the Cotswolds, and beyond. Every session, wherever it takes place, is a full morning’s shoot tailored entirely to what your family loves.
I always find a combination of your home and a favourite park works well. I love all London’s amazing parks with Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Holland Park, Kensington Gardens, Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park being particular favourites. Tell me where you are based and together we can plan the perfect photo shoot for your family.
Is This the Right Photo Shoot for Your Family?
I hope you have found this blog post on how to make family photo shoots fun useful. This style of session works especially well for families who want something relaxed and real – photographs that reflect how you actually live, rather than posed portraits in a studio. Whether you have a new baby, boisterous young children, self-conscious teenagers, or a combination of all three, I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and I love working with families at every stage.
If you have animals, a particular hobby, or a grandparent you’d love to include, please do mention it when you get in touch. The more you tell me about what your family enjoys, the better the photographs will be.
I’d love to hear from you. You can find out more about family photography sessions on my Family Photography page, or do get in touch to talk through what you have in mind.
