Let’s get right down to it! Have you ever felt a little apprehensive to book a family photography session because your not sure how your husband will take it? Perhaps they give you a little push back because they dread getting in front of a camera and “smiling.” Maybe they will say something like, “Honey, come on, do we really have to take more pictures!?” Well today I’m going to share with you a few tips to help dads relax for a photo session!

1. Let him wear something comfortable

Now, hear me out. I certainly don’t mean let him come waltzing up to the family photography session in sweatpants and tennis shoes! Focus on choosing an outfit for him that he is comfortable in; this includes his shoes as well. Lifestyle family photography sessions can be very active, especially when there are children in the mix. We really want dad to be comfortable in what he is wearing so that he can move around and play with the kiddos.

2. Let him focus on you and the kids.

To let you in on a little secret, I hardly ever make dad look at me and smile. Now, I do respect the fact that everyone usually wants that one picture where everyone is smiling so that they can send it to grandma and that’s totally fine! Just know that is not my focus. When I single out dad to get in some pictures with his kids, I feel like it’s their automatic reaction to look at me and give me a fake cheesy smile.

However, when I ask him to look at his family, look at his beautiful wife and children, his demeanor changes. You can see the happiness and love come over his face because he is looking at the people that mean the most to him; his wife and kids. I always love the end product you get when you get dad and the kids together to just be themselves. My focus of lifestyle family photography is to capture interactive images that tell your family’s story! I find that I get so many genuinely happy images without having to have dads turn to look at me!

3. Let him do something he loves

Here’s another way to help dads relax. Give your husband an extra few hours to do something he loves that day. Maybe let him read a book outside while you watch the kids, listen to music in headphones, watch a show, take a nap, drink a cup of coffee on the back porch, whatever it is, make sure he gets a few hours to himself. I feel like sometimes it’s overwhelming for dads to get mentally ready for photography sessions so giving him some personal space for a little while the day of the session should help his brain relax.

4. Make it exciting!

The day of a lifestyle family photography session can get stressful sometimes for everyone. I know that most of the time people are rushing home from work, then back out the door to take photos. Instead of doing that, try to plan the session on a day where you know you can be free from deadlines and checklists. Work on planning it on a day you already have put aside to spend time with family so you can go with the flow of the day.

I usually suggest making it a purposely lazy day. Watch some movies together, snuggle, nap, do whatever it is that your family enjoys doing to relax. You don’t want the kids to be worn out from such a busy day that they won’t want to participate in the session. Then perhaps after the session is over, reward your family with an ice cream trip or a small toy that they’ve been wanting. Again, make it an exciting experience that they’ll want to do again and reward them!

I hope that this helps ease the fear that dads get when the word “photography” is mentioned!

If you live in the Nashville, TN Pensacola, FL or Greenville, SC area and would like a photo session, you can check out my packages or contact me!