How to Survive a Family Photo Shoot (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Sanity)

Let’s just say it out loud: getting ready for family pictures is rarely anyone’s idea of a good time.

Sure, the final product? Gorgeous. Magical. Frame-worthy. You’ll cry when you see them. You'll share them on Facebook with a caption like, “So blessed. What a beautiful crew.” And you are blessed. But you’re also exhausted, because before that perfect sunset smile came a whirlwind of chaos, questionable snack choices, and one particularly unfortunate chocolate Pop-Tart incident in the carseat. (Looking at you, Scarlett.)

We’ve been there. We are there. We have four kids. So, from one chaos coordinator to another, here’s a real-world guide on how to prep for a family shoot and not completely lose your mind in the process.

1. Lower your expectations.

Not for the photos — those are gonna look amazing. But for the process? Yeah, go ahead and mentally prepare for at least one meltdown (child or adult), a snack emergency, and someone deciding the outfit you laid out just isn’t their truth anymore. It’s okay. Chaos is part of the charm.

2. Plan the outfits early. Then hide them like they’re national secrets.

Outfits should not be a night-before scramble. Choose your outfits at least a week out. Lay them out. Try them on. Then IMMEDIATELY zip them into garment bags and hide them on the highest shelf of the darkest closet. These are not play clothes. These are photo clothes. They are sacred.

Pro tip: bring backups. Especially for little ones. Toddlers are like tiny tornadoes with yogurt hands.

3. Schedule around your kids, not your ideal Pinterest sunset.

Yes, golden hour is amazing. Yes, natural light is dreamy. But if your toddler’s witching hour starts at 6:00 p.m., you may want to push the shoot earlier or opt for morning light. A well-lit photo with smiling children will always beat a beautifully lit shot of a kid screaming like they just lost their favorite Paw Patrol character.

4. Snacks: the real MVP.

Pack non-messy, bribery-level snacks. Think fruit snacks, mini marshmallows, dry cereal. No chocolate. No red dye. No ranch-flavored anything. You want cooperation, not Cheeto dust in the creases of your child’s khakis.

Also, hydrate everyone but not too much. A mid-session bathroom break in the woods may sound whimsical until you're wrestling with a romper in the back of a Suburban.

5. Face check. Nose check. Hands check.

Right before go-time, do the trifecta:
✔ No pizza sauce or snot mustaches
✔ No mystery goo on hands
✔ No marker tattoos they added to their arms five minutes ago

Wipes are your best friend. So are bribery-level threats with the promise of post-photo ice cream.

6. Talk it up — but don’t oversell it.

Tell your kids they’re going to have fun. That it’ll be quick. That they’ll get a treat afterward. But also… be honest. Tell them they just need to smile like a human for 20 minutes and then they’re free. Don't call it “a photo shoot” — call it “family hangout with pictures.” Marketing matters.

7. Trust your photographer.

We’ve done this before. We’ve seen every meltdown, every snack bribery, every sibling squabble. We’re not just about clicking the shutter — we’re here to wrangle chaos, tell jokes, and capture the in-between moments that make your family yours.

We know how to get the good stuff — even if it starts with a little chocolate Pop-Tart puke and ends with your toddler pantsless in a field holding a half-eaten granola bar.

8. Laugh. A lot.

Your kids will feed off your energy. If you’re stressed and snappy, they’ll follow suit. But if you laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, if you lean into the mess and embrace the imperfect — that’s when the magic happens.

Besides, some of our favorite shots are the ones where someone’s giggling mid-chaos. Because that’s real. And someday, you’ll look at those photos and feel every bit of the love (and probably still smell the faint scent of Pop-Tarts).

So breathe. Pack the snacks. Hide the clothes. And remember — this will absolutely be worth it.
The stress is temporary. The photos are forever. And who knows? Maybe this year, no one will puke in the car.

(Maybe.)