How to Photograph Kids Who Don’t Want Their Picture Taken (A Child-Led Approach)

Why Some Kids Don’t Want Their Photos Taken

Many parents come into a session worried because their child has already been labeled as “the one who won’t smile” or “the one who hates pictures.” The truth is, there’s nothing wrong with those kids. Some children are slow to warm up, some are highly observant, and some simply don’t like being told what to do—especially by a camera. All of that is completely normal, and none of it means we won’t create beautiful images together.

When children are pressured to smile, sit still, or perform on command, it usually has the opposite effect. Forced smiles feel stiff, bodies tense up, and the moment becomes about compliance instead of connection. I don’t believe great photos come from control. They come from comfort, trust, and allowing a child to feel safe being exactly who they are in that moment.

My approach to photographing kids is completely child-led and intentionally relaxed. I follow their energy instead of trying to redirect it. That might look like movement instead of posing, quiet observation instead of big expressions, or playful interaction instead of traditional prompts. I give children choices, keep things light, and never rush the process. When kids feel respected, they naturally begin to engage—and that’s when genuine moments happen.

The result is photographs that feel honest and true to your child, not forced or staged. Often, the kids who didn’t want their photos taken at the start of the session are the ones who surprise everyone by the end. They loosen up, they laugh, or they offer a quiet glance that says more than a practiced smile ever could. Those are the moments I look for—because childhood isn’t meant to be perfected, it’s meant to be remembered.