How I Photograph Kids Who ‘Hate’ Having Their Photo Taken

I hear this one all the time. “Fair warning — my kid hates photos.” Sometimes it’s said with a laugh. Sometimes it’s said with the exhausted resignation of someone who has tried and failed many times before. Either way, my response is always the same: don’t worry. We’ve got this. Also, stop reminding them. (Lol. But also seriously.)

This is what makes natural family photography a win. I’m Blaire at Second Ave Photography, and working with camera-shy, strong-willed, or reluctant kids is genuinely one of my favorite challenges. Here’s what I’ve learned after years of photographing kids across Northern Virginia.

They Don’t Hate Photos — They Hate the Experience

The truth is, most kids don’t actually hate photos. What they hate is the experience of being photographed. The posing. The “look over here!” The waiting. The sense that they’re supposed to produce something on command for someone else’s benefit. And honestly? That sounds terrible. I wouldn’t want to do it either.

Natural family photography reframes the session so that it’s not about producing a performance — when you take all that pressure completely off the table — something changes. Kids who swore they would never cooperate end up being some of my best subjects, because they stop trying to cooperate and just start being themselves.

Step One: Forget I’m a Photographer

I don’t start with the camera. I start with conversation. With younger kids, I might start by being ridiculous, like asking silly questions and talking about whatever they’re interested in. The goal is simple: get them to forget I’m a photographer. Once that happens, everything else follows naturally.

I’ll often spend the first few minutes of a session with the camera mostly down, just getting to know the kid. I may also put it down throughout our session. It might look like nothing is happening. I’ve even had parents “remind” me to take pictures. Believe me what I say, a lot is happening. Here’s what I’m doing: I’m building trust, reading their energy, figuring out what makes them tick. That investment pays off enormously in the photos.

I Follow Their Lead Entirely

With reluctant kids especially, I follow their lead entirely. We don’t sit still, we don’t pose, we don’t do anything they don’t want to do. If they want to throw rocks in a creek for twenty minutes before they’re comfortable enough to look at me, we throw rocks in a creek. The session happens on their timeline, not mine. And not yours. 🙂

This is something I feel strongly about and why I love natural family photography. Forcing a kid into a posed situation when they’re not comfortable doesn’t produce good photos. It produces exactly the stiff, unhappy images that made them hate having their photo taken in the first place. Patience and genuine interest in the kid are always the better path.

Distance Is My Friend

With a camera-shy kid, I’ll often shoot from further away at first. I’m not in their face demanding eye contact. I’m just nearby; present but not intrusive. Over time, the camera becomes part of the background rather than the center of the experience. Kids stop noticing it. And the moment they stop noticing it, the real photos start. Natural family photography leads to natural family photos.

When the Moment Comes, I’m Ready

When a reluctant kid finally relaxes and flashes a genuine smile, I’m ready. I’m always ready. Sessions with me aren’t about quantity of shots. They’re about being in exactly the right place when the right moment happens, and being skilled enough to catch it when it does.

Some of my absolute favorite galleries have come from sessions where parents warned me a kid would never cooperate. Give them the right environment, the right pace, a photographer who genuinely isn’t pushing and kids surprise you every single time.

Northern Virginia families, if you have a camera-shy kid, I’d love to prove what’s possible with my approach to natural family photography. Reach out to Second Ave Photography and let’s make something unexpected together.

Natural Family Photography for Kids Who ‘Hate’ Taking Pictures