Emily Cannata Photography: The Blog

We know babies don’t keep and those cherub faced toddlers, as if overnight, transform into independent tweens and teenagers with a social calendar. In the last few years I’ve noticed so many “Panic Posts” from family photographers scared/confused/lost when realizing their upcoming family session includes tweens or teens… or both!

Here’s the thing, this age group is actually amazing to work with! What can come off as standoffish or throwing attitude is really just them adjusting to themselves. Do you remember middle school?! I do and there is no amount of money that would get me to go back, especially in this day and age… no cap. Or whatever it is the cool kids are saying these days.

Blanket snuggles and games of peek-a-boo may be your comfort zone with littles, do yourself a favor and get comfortable with older kiddos. Your beloved families with preschoolers will eventually have middle schoolers. How wonderful to continue investing in each other! Below are my Quick Tips for Posing Families with Older Kids.

Try them out at your next session and let me know how it went! I’d love to know what worked or allowed you to be slightly less intimidated by these fabulous young people who are still becoming.

Connection: Points of contact that makes sense!

With littles, physical connection is pretty darn easy to capture. Babies are held. Toddlers are snuggled and willingly (usually) run into your arms. They are fine with tickles, giggles, and games of peek-a-boo. Preschoolers love to be silly and are always up for a game of animal sounds. They are easy, predictable, and a bit less complicated than tweens and teens. Older kids are more aware of personal space and can feel a little awkward showing affection… especially with their siblings.

Clear direction and guidance from you is key: “Move a little closer to Mom so you can easily rest your head on her shoulder.” “Gently link your arm through your Sibling’s arm.” “Get closer to your dad and bring your chin up slightly.” Older kiddos really do take direction well and are genuinely looking to do the right things.

In addition to physical points on contact, pre-session communication is huge, especially when you’re posing families with older kids. If you don’t have a pre-session questionnaire as part of your work flow, start now! The more information you can get, the better. Showing up with knowledge of a tween or teen’s favorites shows a level a respect – you’ve invested in them already! Here’s a handful of asks: Favorite gas station junk food/snack. Favorite sport/sport team. What’s currently on your playlist. These are great topics to chat about when pulling them aside for individual portraits.

Prompts That Work: Authentic Engagement = Authentic Images

You may think that prompts for older kids can be a bit awkward and, let’s be honest, cheesy. And yes, you’re right, they can. That said, reframing how you think about your prompts and what you actually ask can be the key to some incredible images! It’s also worth noting to communicate with your family about some the “silly” things you may ask them to do. I’ve found it to be so helpful to be upfront about the “games” we play and that while they may seem ridiculous, they have a purpose and place. It’s also important that you, as the professional, be able to read the room, so to speak. Get a feel for your family at that start and adjust as needed.

3 Go To Prompts when Posing Families with Older Kids

• Look At… This is my go-to for the start of any session. Once I have everyone placed where I want, and snap the standard everyone is looking and smiling images, we get to the real session. I love these interactions because you quickly get a read on each family member and their personality. Keeping it age appropriate but questions could be: Who makes the biggest mess in the kitchen? Who has the best fashion/style? Who sings the loudest in the shower? Who leaves the empty boxes in the pantry?
• Walk and Talk: Arrange your family members so that as they move no one is totally obstructed (as they start to move); not a truly structured line but have them on the same plain; youngest or shortest closest to you. As they walk, towards a set point, have them take turns yelling out answers to a category you give: names of cereal, shades of blue, state capitals, and so on.
• Proud Parent: I love having each kid pose with mom (and/or dad). While it’s only a few moments of the session, having this time where each kid gets all the attention is beyond magical. Ask the parents to whisper 2 to 3 things that make them so proud about their child, and then ask the kid to return the favor. These are some of the sweetest interactions you’ll get!

Communicate and Set Expectations

Time is somewhat of a luxury when working with older kids because they are, simply put: older. With younger kids, we often build in time for redirection, snacks/potty breaks, and the occasional refusal to participate. This said, I still like to communicate the session flow in both my pre-session communication as well as at the start. Allowing older kids to know what expect makes the entire session process easier!

No phone zone! This one hurts them a bit, however in the long run both you, and the family (Mom in particular) will be happy. Sessions aren’t hours on end so being disconnected from technology and intentionally connected to family for an hour is absolutely reasonable!

Wardrobe matters! Part of communicating, and setting expectations, is about what should be (or shouldn’t be worn). Share your wardrobe tips and guides is essential to any session; often with older children you being the voice of authority lessens the arguments that may follow at home. For example, I have ALL members try their clothing on a do basic tasks like sitting, walking, and so on.

I hope you found inspiration in these quick tips for posing families with older kids! Sessions with older children are really fantastic and, often, quicker than those with toddlers. Our families grow and change, so keeping them coming back year after year is truly an honor!