Choosing the right activity for your family's vibe

PANICKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO DURING YOUR IN-HOME SESSION? TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THROW THE WORD "PLAN" OUT THE WINDOW! IN THIS BLOG, I'M DIVING INTO THE 'HOW-TO' OF PICKING ACTIVITIES THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE A TOTAL CHORE. THINK OF THIS AS YOUR "ANTI-BORING" GUIDE TO MAKING SURE YOUR SESSION IS A TOTAL VIBE.

People playing and jumping in snow outside a house in winter.

Family relaxing together on gray couch near Christmas tree.

If it feels like a chore, skip it...

Don’t feel like you have to force yourselves into some hobby you don't even like just for the sake of the camera. If you aren't "crafty" people, don't feel pressured to start a DIY project! The best photos happen when you’re actually having a good time, not just acting the part. Since no two families are the same, your photos should look like your life— capturing the random stuff you legit love doing, rather than performing some "perfect" activity just because you think it'll look good on the gram.

To get started, just think about what your crew actually likes to do. Pick 3 or 4 hobbies, adventures, or random activities you can tackle as a family. Since my sessions are totally child-led, we are essentially at the mercy of their cooperation! I’m a huge fan of letting the kids in on the decision-making! When they get a say in the activities, they actually get pumped for the photos instead of dreading them. Plus, it’s a total core memory—down the road, you’ll look back and remember exactly what "obsessed" phase they were in and what your life actually felt like in this moment.

Dimly lit interior scene showing relaxed evening atmosphere.

Meet the Miller crew! ❄️ We embraced the freezing temps for some epic snow play, followed by a mandatory hot cocoa and oatmeal cookie break to defrost. Honestly, I had such a blast with them—these guys are officially some of my favorite people to photograph, hands down! 🍪☕

Keep it short and sweet—aim for a "fun limit"...

I think the next tip will depend on what you want from our time together. The "fun stuff" is a huge part of my family sessions, but if you want a larger variety in your gallery, try picking an activity that doesn't take up all of our time together. We want to make sure we have plenty of time left over to grab those classic family shots and candid moments once the fun activities are done!

It’s best to keep your activity to something that can be completed within about 45 minutes or less. The activity portion is just one aspect of your at-home family session, so we want to make sure we get other photos of your family outside of the activity. Look, I’m never going to rush you, but I also don’t want to be that guest who won't leave your house.

Small child in beige sweater drinks from festive holiday cup at granite kitchen counter.

Playful winter moment on a snowy driveway near a parked car.

A person in a blue sweater and brown boots walks across a snowy path in winter.

Person in blue sweater drinking from festive holiday mug at counter.

Roll with the punches...

Rank your session activities from your "must-haves" to "it would be fun", and make sure to put your favorite activities at the top of the list.

Listen, life happens! You might have a solid 3-activity game plan, but sometimes we just won't hit them all. Maybe the family board game gets way too competitive to quit, maybe your toddler decides baking cookies is suddenly the absolute worst idea ever, or maybe Mother Nature literally rains on our parade. If we have to pivot, we pivot! (Keeping that urgent, slightly chaotic, "Ross from Friends" energy alive) The goal is fun, not a checklist. Being flexible is the secret sauce to keeping the vibes high and the meltdowns low!