Making Photos Fun: My Approach to Child Photography

My son recently had his preschool prep graduation at My Gym in Lafayette.

Other parents kept asking, “How do you get him to pose like that?” The secret isn’t forcing perfect smiles or demanding they look at the camera.

Since day one, I’ve made photography a positive experience. Instead of fighting his natural silliness and candid moments, I embrace them. Now he actually asks for photos because it’s fun, not a chore.

The key is letting kids be themselves. When you work with their personality instead of against it, they stay open to being photographed. Those genuine, silly moments often make the best pictures anyway.

This same approach guides my family photo shoots. I don’t spend the session trying to wrangle kids into stiff poses. Instead, I create space for their authentic selves to shine through. The result? Natural smiles, real connections, and photos that truly capture who they are.

Sometimes the best portraits happen when you stop trying so hard to create them.