Who's the Real Boss?


As I was looking through some galleries from last summer, I rediscovered this lovely family photoshoot. It was a clear August day, and we met at Treworgy Family Orchard in Levant, Maine. We were creating the family’s first portraits as a family of three.

Now, between you and me, I approach family photos with infants and children under age three as if the child is the boss. That might sound off, but I promise the strategy has only paid off positively so far. That’s because keeping children that age comfortable is the key to success. If you want them smiling and meltdown-free on photo day, this has been my surefire way to make that happen. 

What this means in practical terms is that I allow the child to lead, and we keep things entertaining for them. For example, we started out with a base pose at the beginning of the session. Once the child shows signs of disinterest, we switch the pose up to something new or more entertaining.

If the young child is showing that they want to get down and explore, we let that happen and follow the child’s interest.


This allows me to capture moments that feel like playtime. This is also a good time to bring the camera’s perspective down to the same level as the child. It makes the photos feel like we are in the child’s world with them.

If the child needs a break, we let them chill in a safe place, and we turn our attention to other combinations of family members. 


More often than not, once the attention is turned toward the parents, then the child will want to return to them for more interaction, and that gives us more opportunity to create some different poses and fun moments.

Another thing that I loved about this family session was the color pallete. Their outfits don’t strictly match, but they all tie together by simply using variations of a single color. A color that happened to go quite well with everyone’s eye color too! 

The simple color scheme let the emotions on the family’s faces shine, and gave the photos a peaceful summer feeling. 

Is it time to update your family photos?