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@taraflanneryphotography
Photographers: the secret to family sessions with little kids? Stop expecting them to follow the plan. 😂📸
Young kids are going to move. They’re going to get distracted. They may decide halfway through that they’re completely DONE with your ideas—and that’s okay.
Instead of fighting it, work with it.
Keep them moving and engaged. Give them something to do instead of constantly asking them to smile. And don’t forget to coach Mom and Dad, too! Encourage them to interact with their kids, keep looking at you when you need the classic family shot, and trust you to get the moment.
Because some of the best images happen in between the poses—the laughs, cuddles, movement, and little expressions you couldn’t have planned if you tried.
You don’t need perfectly behaved kids to create beautiful family portraits. You need patience, flexibility, and a few tricks ready when your original plan goes out the window. 😉
📸 If you’re growing your photography business, I have free resources covering everything from gear and lighting to posing and more. Check them out through the link in my bio!
Standing out professionally matters more than ever—especially when you’re competing for someone’s attention before you ever get the chance to meet them.
Your LinkedIn profile, company bio, website, or online portfolio may be someone’s very first introduction to you. And while your experience and qualifications are what really matter, the way you present yourself can help shape that first impression.
That’s where a great professional headshot comes in. 📸
A current, polished photo helps you look confident, approachable, and intentional about how you show up professionally. And in a tough job market, those little details matter.
If your current headshot is several years old, doesn’t really look like you anymore, or is still a cropped photo from your camera roll…it might be time. 😉
Let’s create a headshot that actually represents the professional you are today.
📸 Book your headshot session through the link in my bio.
I think family photos mean something a little different to me now. 🤍
For years, I was the mom hanging new portraits on the walls while my kids were still living at home. Then came senior portraits, graduations, and eventually watching both of them head off to start their own next chapters.
Now that my youngest is off at college, the house is a whole lot quieter.
But everywhere I look, there they are.
On the walls. In frames. In albums. All of these different versions of our family and my kids at ages I can’t go back to.
And maybe that’s why I feel so strongly about family portraits.
When you’re in the middle of raising your kids, it’s easy to think there will always be another year. Another fall. Another chance to schedule the photos.
There probably will be.
But they’ll never be exactly this age again.
Take the photos. Print them. Put them on your walls. Let your home fill up with the people you love.
Someday, you’ll be really glad you did. 🤍
📸 I still have a few weekend dates available for fall family portraits. If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to updating yours, maybe this is your sign.
Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.
Capture One, if you’re looking for someone to sponsor… I’m your girl. 😉📸
But seriously—if you’re a headshot or portrait photographer and you haven’t tried shooting tethered yet, let me introduce you to one of my favorite workflow upgrades.
Tethering simply means connecting your camera to a computer so your images appear on a larger screen as you shoot. I use a wired connection straight into Capture One, which makes it easy to review images during the session, catch the little details I might miss on the back of my camera, and favorite the strongest shots as I go.
And when I’m finished? My selects are already organized, so I can transfer everything to my main computer at home and jump into editing without sorting through the entire session all over again.
I used to tether wirelessly, but switching to a wired setup has made the process much more reliable and seamless for me.
It’s one of those small workflow changes that makes a BIG difference—especially when you photograph a lot of headshots.
And if you’re just getting started in photography—or looking for ways to improve your setup, lighting, posing, and workflow—I have a whole collection of free resources for photographers waiting for you at the link in my bio. 📸
Photographers, are you shooting tethered yet? 👇🏻
“But what if my kids don’t cooperate?” 😅
If that’s the first thing you think about when you imagine family photos, I promise—you’re not alone.
Your kids don’t need to sit perfectly still, smile on command, or be on their best behavior for us to create beautiful photos. They can move. They can be silly. They can need a snack break. They can take a few minutes to warm up.
That’s all part of photographing real families.
Swipe through for a few of my favorite ways to make family portraits with little ones feel easier (and a whole lot less stressful).
And if you want help preparing for everything else, grab my FREE Family Session Welcome Guide! I’ll walk you through what to wear, choosing a location, preparing for your session, what to expect from start to finish, posing, finished photo ideas, FAQs, and more.
🤍 Grab your free copy through the link in my bio—and then come to your session ready to love on your family. I’ll handle the rest.
Family photos with a 4-year-old? You just have to roll with it. 😂🤍
Little kids aren’t going to stand perfectly still, follow every direction, and smile on command—and I don’t expect them to!
I’d much rather meet them where they are. We’ll play, move around, be silly, take little breaks when we need them, and work toward those sweet moments in between.
That’s part of why I love family sessions so much. The goal isn’t perfectly behaved kids or a picture-perfect hour. It’s capturing your family as they are right now.
And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for the frame. 😉 But sometimes the personality-filled moments end up being the favorites.
🍂 I still have a few fall family portrait dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.
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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area
tara@taraflannery.com
713-412-5437
