What If My Family Is Awkward in Front of a Camera?

What If My Family Is Awkward in Front of a Camera?

One of the first things families tell me is that they're awkward in front of a camera. Usually, that changes once we stop asking everyone to stand still.

The question I hear all the time

One of the first things parents tell me on a consultation call is, "We're not really photogenic." It usually comes with a story about someone freezing up, not knowing what to do with their hands, or smiling so hard that it no longer looks like them. I understand why people call that awkward. Nobody naturally knows how to stand still and look comfortable while a camera is pointed at them.

I give you something to do instead: a direction, a question, a reason to look at each other rather than at me. That's more useful than hunting for your best angle and asking you to freeze there, because now you have something else to pay attention to besides whether you look right. Parents sometimes apologize when a child looks away or needs a break, but those are usually the moments that tell me how to keep the session moving.

Sometimes, by the tenth minute, a family has mostly forgotten I'm there. Parents stop checking whether I got the shot and start watching what their kids are doing. That's the version of you I want on your wall: the one paying attention to each other instead of holding a camera-ready smile.

Nobody was told to smile in this frame.

How I actually direct a session

I rarely say "smile." Instead, I give small, specific prompts that create a real reaction. I might ask you to whisper something funny to your kid, walk toward me and stop when I say, or tell your partner what you're grateful for today. The reason this works is that the prompt gives you something to respond to. I'm not waiting for you to perform a smile on command.

Movement over stillness

• I keep families walking, swaying, or turning rather than locked into one pose. Once people are moving together, parents stop checking me and start paying attention to their kids. That gives everyone something to think about besides the camera.
• I ask questions mid-shoot about a favorite memory or an inside joke. I'm less interested in the answer than in the expression that happens while you're answering it.
• I shoot in bursts through the in-between moments. A prompt can feel a little silly, then someone laughs, a child leans into a parent, and the whole family relaxes for a second. That's often where the photograph is.

This is the approach I use whether it's your first session or your tenth. You can see examples in the portfolio, or read about how a session runs on the sessions page.

The families who worry most about looking awkward are often the ones who relax fastest once they realize they don't have to perform.

A real conversation, not a held pose.

Movement gives everyone something to do besides stare at the lens.

What to expect if you're nervous about this

The first five minutes are usually the hardest

The first few minutes are usually a little awkward. Nobody really knows what to do with their hands when a camera first comes out, and I'm still learning how the family moves together. Parents sometimes apologize for that. They don't need to. I treat that window as a warm-up rather than the real material, since what it's actually doing is giving everyone time to settle in.

You don't need to know how to pose

I'll tell you where to stand and what to do with your hands if you want that guidance, but mostly I'd rather prompt an interaction and let your bodies figure out the rest. That gives the photograph some life instead of making you hold a position that feels unnatural.

Things that help before we start:

• Wear something you feel genuinely comfortable in. If you're adjusting your clothes all afternoon, that's harder to forget about than the camera is.
• Tell me in advance about any inside jokes or shared stories I can use as prompts. A familiar subject gives us an easier way into a real reaction.
• Expect a few awkward-feeling minutes at the start. That's just what the first stretch of a session looks like.
• Trust the direction even when a prompt feels a little silly. The silly part is what gives you something to react to, and the reaction is what makes the photograph feel natural.

Candid photo questions

What if we really can't stop looking stiff?

I can't promise everyone relaxes on the same schedule, but moving and talking helps within the first few minutes for most families. I keep working through the stiffness instead of stopping to correct your posture. Most of the time, all it takes is giving you something else to do and letting the family settle in.

Do you pose us at all?

Some. I'll give quick directional guidance like "turn toward each other" or "walk this way", but I lean on prompts and movement more than rigid poses. The direction gives you a starting point, and the interaction gives the photograph its natural feeling.

How long does a session take?

A full family session runs up to about an hour, which gives enough time to move past the initial awkward stretch and get to the relaxed part.

What does a session cost?

A full family session is $295.

Paying attention to the family that's actually there.

I don't see my job as fixing awkward people or teaching families how to pose. I pay attention to who's in front of me and adjust the session around that, including the awkward first few minutes.

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