When families start planning a photo session, the focus is almost always on the kids. How big they’ve gotten. How quickly things are changing. How you want to remember them right now.
And then the conversation usually shifts.
“Can we just do photos of the kids?”
I hear this all the time.
I’m Natasha, a Washington, DC–based in-home family and newborn photographer. I photograph families in a very storytelling-driven way, and I don’t photograph family sessions without parents joining-in. Because they are a central part of the story I’m documenting.
If you’re planning a session and feeling unsure about being photographed yourself, these family photo session tips will help you understand why you need to get in the photos.
Start With What Family Photos Are Actually For
One of the most important family photo session tips I can share is this: family photos are not about creating a highlight reel.
They’re about preserving relationships.
When parents tell me they just want photos of the kids, it’s usually coming from a very real place. They don’t love the way they look. Or they don’t know what to wear.
But photography isn’t meant to freeze a perfect version of life. It’s meant to capture connection.
Years from now, your children won’t be looking at these photos to evaluate how put together anyone looked. They’ll be looking for who was there. Who did the loving. Who showed up in the middle of normal, everyday life.
That story doesn’t exist without parents.
Why In-Home Family Photography Is About Storytelling
In-home family photography is naturally story-driven. Your home isn’t just where the session happens. It’s part of the context.
It’s where your newborn is fed and soothed. It’s where your toddler runs when they need comfort. It’s where your family’s rhythms already exist.
When parents aren’t included in the photos, that context is sort-of lost.
During phone consults, I often explain that I’m not just photographing what your family looks like. I’m documenting how your family feels. And parents are essential to that feeling.
Your children’s childhood doesn’t happen around you. It happens with you. And it’s important to document.
You Don’t Need to Feel Ready to Be Included
This is one of the biggest reasons parents hesitate, and it’s worth addressing directly.
You don’t need to feel ready.
Ready usually sounds like:
- After things calm down
- Once I feel more like myself
- When life feels less chaotic
- When I loose 10 pounds
But there’s always another season coming. Another reason to wait.
One of the most honest family photo session tips I can offer is this: you’re allowed to show up exactly as you are. You don’t need to fix anything. You are the perfect parent for your child and deserve to be in the photos.
The parents who thank me most after sessions are often the ones who were the most hesitant going in. Not because they suddenly loved every photo of themselves, but because they understood what the photos represent and mean.
Presence matters.
Your Kids Will Care About These Photos More Than You Think
Children don’t look at photos the way adults do.
They’re not critical. They’re not zooming in. They’re not noticing the things you’re self-conscious about.
They’re looking for familiarity. For comfort. For proof of who loved them.
When parents are missing from family photos, kids notice later. And do you want to have to explain that to them? Of course you don’t!
Including yourself gives your children a fuller picture of their childhood. One that includes the people who mattered most and the relationships that shaped them.
What to Expect When Parents Are Part of the Session
If the idea of being in photos feels uncomfortable, that’s normal. That’s where experience and guidance matter. And I have both!
During an in-home family session, I’m not asking anyone to perform or pose. I guide gently and allow moments to unfold naturally. You’ll play games and just love on your family. You don’t need to know what to do or where to look – I’ve got that handled.
You just need to be with your family.
My job is to take care of the rest.
Think About the Long Term
When families look back on their photos years from now, they rarely remember how unsure they felt going into the session. What they remember is that they chose to be part of the story.
They didn’t wait for a perfect moment that never came.
That decision matters.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re considering a family photo session and want to understand what an in-home experience would look like for your family, I’m happy to answer questions and walk through the process with you.
