Why I don’t want you to tell your kids to say “smile!” | NJ Family Photographer
You might have heard the term “lifestyle family session” and wondered what it really means.
Lifestyle photography is a modern approach to family sessions where the focus is on capturing genuine connections, emotions, and interactions.
Rather than stiff poses or everyone looking at the camera the whole time, lifestyle sessions encourage families to simply be together.
Some people think of them as “candid” photos, but it’s more intentional than that—nothing is left to chance. As your photographer, I’ll gently guide you with prompts and small activities so that your attention stays on each other instead of worrying about how to pose.
Of course, we’ll capture a few classic “looking-at-the-camera” shots, but the heart of a lifestyle session lies in the natural moments in between -laughs, hugs, silly faces, and even quiet pauses. To me, forced smiles without emotion don’t tell your story. Instead, I want to highlight the little connections that make your family who you are.
For a lifestyle session to be truly successful, preparation matters. Encourage your family to relax and enjoy the experience, and avoid repeating phrases like “Smile!” or “Look at the camera!” during the session. Especially for little ones, those instructions can feel like pressure and may cause them to hold back their true feelings.
When kids (and adults!) feel free to be themselves, that’s when the magic happens - and that’s when we capture images you’ll cherish forever.
I recommend going through my other tips post “How to make your family pictures feel natural (and not stiff)” and I’m sure it will be useful as well.