I know from experience that when our kids become teens things definitely change.  Some of us spend our time begging are teens to spend some quality time with us while others are busy driving the teens around from one extracurricular activity to another.  Before we know it we begin counting down to the day they leave the nest and whether we like it or not… it is going to happen!  And then we realize that the last time we got some family photos taken was when the kids were teeny tiny.  You know it’s true! And if you are worried that your teen or tween won’t be up for being part of the family photo fun, I am going to give you some tips on how to get them on board.

Schedule in Advance

Teens have busier schedules than us and when we ask the to change their plans for some family photos they instantly say no.  But if you schedule your family photo session at least two months in advance it will definitely give your teens enough time to block those days.  And why not schedule during the week so that it doesn’t interfere with their weekend fun.  I have availability both weekends and weekdays to accommodate any schedule.

Make it Cool

Teens are all about doing things that are cool and sometimes spending time with their parents in front of a camera isn’t there idea of fun.  But if we find a fun, trendy location that peaks their interest the idea of family photos may seem more enticing.  There are plenty of locations that I can suggest that I know your teen will just love.

It’s All About Fun

So one thing I know for sure is that teens and tweens don’t like to just stand in front of the camera to give that cheesy smile.  And if we are asking them to do it over and over again they will definitely be grumpy.  In recent years I have learned so many wonderful prompts and games that will make anyone just enjoy the camera.  Throughout the session, I use these to cause the perfect interactions to happen between you and your family.  The teens will have so much fun that they won’t even notice the time.  Many times, teens and tweens leave my sessions saying, “that was fun.”