I Don’t Want Your Kids to Be Perfect. I Want Them to Be Themselves.
Here’s something I wish more parents knew before their family photo session. I don’t need your kids to be perfectly behaved. I don’t need them to stand still for an hour, smile on command, or pretend to be tiny, well-mannered adults who never interrupt each other. I mean, have you MET kids?! 😂
Of course, we’re going to get those beautiful family portraits where everyone’s looking at the camera. I know those matter, too. But you know what else matters? The way your son laughs when something is genuinely funny. The little expressions your daughter makes without even realizing it. The way your kids interact when they’re not being told exactly where to stand or what to do. Because one day, those are the things you’re going to miss. I know this because I’m a mom, too. When I look back at photographs of my own kids, the ones that stop me in my tracks aren’t necessarily the ones where they were doing everything they were supposed to. They’re the ones where I can still see their personalities. The laughter. The silliness. The expressions that were so uniquely them at that age. And sometimes, those moments happened precisely because they weren’t following directions.
Sometimes the Best Location Isn’t the Prettiest One
When Jillian reached out about family photos, I learned that sports were a pretty big deal in the Knox household. Steven and Anderson love sports. Ainsley loves to dance. And Jillian describes their family as casual, sporty, and loving. She also told me about a previous family session they’d done at a baseball field. She loved that the guys could feel comfortable in a setting that suited them, while she and Ainsley could still dress a little more stylishly. So this time, we went with a football field.
Not a field full of wildflowers. Not a perfectly manicured park. An actual football field. And you know what? It was perfect for them. Because the goal isn’t to make every family look like they belong in the same photograph. It’s to create photographs that look and feel like their family.
Let Them Be Kids
Anderson is almost nine. Ainsley is almost seven. And during their session, they did what kids that age do. They were kids. We had fun. We let their personalities come through. And we didn’t spend the entire session trying to manufacture perfect smiles. That’s not to say I don’t give direction. I absolutely do. There’s a difference between letting kids be themselves and expecting everyone to figure out what to do while I stand there holding an expensive camera. Ha! But I also know when to step back. When to let something unfold. When the moment happening in front of me is more interesting than whatever I had planned next. Because sometimes the photograph you didn’t plan is the one you’ll love the most.
And years from now, when Anderson and Ainsley are older, I hope Jillian and Steven look at these photographs and remember exactly what this chapter of their lives felt like. Not just what everybody looked like. What it felt like to be together. And if that means a few goofy faces, some unexpected laughter, or a little chaos along the way? I’m all for it. ❤️
Your Family Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Worth Remembering
Here’s what I want you to know. You don’t have to wait until your kids are older, better behaved, or easier to photograph. You don’t have to wait until everyone has the perfect outfits or until life feels a little less chaotic. Because this season? The one you’re living right now? This is the stuff you’re going to miss. The laughter. The ridiculous expressions. The way your kids interact. The little personalities that seem so ordinary today but will feel like everything someday. And I’d love to help you remember it.
I’m Jen McKen, a family photographer based in Blairsville, PA, serving Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for family photographs that feel like YOUR family, I’d love to create something meaningful with you.
Let’s document this season of your life. ❤️
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Photography
What if my kids don’t cooperate during our family photo session?
First of all, welcome to parenthood! 😂 Please don’t stress about your kids being perfectly behaved. I’ve been photographing families for over 20 years, and I can promise you that some of my favorite images have happened when kids were doing anything BUT following directions. I use movement, games, and natural interactions to help kids relax and be themselves. Of course, we’ll get those traditional family portraits, too. But I also want the laughter, the silly expressions, and all those little personalities you’re going to miss someday.
Can we choose a unique location for our family photos?
Absolutely! In fact, I encourage it! Your family photos don’t have to happen in a field of wildflowers or a perfectly landscaped park. Sometimes the best location is somewhere your family already loves spending time. A football field, baseball diamond, your backyard, a family farm, or even your favorite little downtown spot can make a fantastic backdrop. The Knox family’s football field session is a perfect example. Sports are a big part of their lives, so the location helped tell their story. The goal isn’t just to find somewhere pretty. It’s to find somewhere that feels like YOU.
Will we still get traditional family portraits?
YES! I promise I’m not going to send you home with 100 pictures of your kids running in opposite directions. Haha! We’ll absolutely take those beautiful, everyone-looking-at-the-camera portraits. But we’ll also leave room for the moments in between. I believe the best family galleries have a little bit of both: photographs that show what your family looks like and photographs that remind you what being together feels like.
Where do you offer family photography sessions?
I’m based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and photograph families throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania. I love working with families to choose locations that reflect their personalities, interests, and the season of life they’re currently in. Whether that’s a football field, your own backyard, or somewhere completely unexpected, we’ll find a place that makes sense for your family.
