One of the questions I get asked most often is, “What happens if my child cries during the session?”
The answer? Nothing happens. We carry on.
Recently, I photographed a little girl named Blake, and for much of the session, she was upset. she was teething, bless her and she was hungry. There were tears, cuddles, and moments where she simply didn’t want to engage. And that’s completely okay.
As a photographer, I’ve learned that children don’t work to a schedule. They don’t suddenly become happy because a camera appears, and they certainly don’t read the session plan beforehand. Every child arrives with their own feelings, personality, and mood, and my job is to work with that, not against it.
I don't like to panic when a child cries because they need reassurance that everything is ok.
Instead, I slow things down. Sometimes I’ll play a game, make silly noises, or simply sit nearby and let them come to me in their own time. Other times, the best thing to do is absolutely nothing at all. Children often just need space to process how they’re feeling. So on this occasion I chose to do nothing. I simply kept the camera out of sight and stood back from Blake, snapping intermittently without making it obvious I was even there. The location helped a great deal, as we were shooting in East park, Hull. East park is vast in open green areas and is an absolutely stunning backdrop for storytelling. I do genuinely believe its gem and somewhat under appreciated for how stunning it is.
The wonderful thing about children is that emotions change quickly. Even during the teariest sessions, there are usually fleeting moments when the tears dry up, curiosity takes over, and a little smile sneaks through. Those are the moments I’m watching for.
With Blake, there were brief windows between the tears where he relaxed, explored, or connected with her parents. Those tiny moments were enough to create beautiful, genuine photographs that tell the story of who she was that day, just a curious little girl looking for some comfort.
Because that’s what I want your gallery to be: real.
Not forced smiles. Not pressure. Not a battle to make your child perform for the camera.
Children are allowed to have big feelings. They’re allowed to be shy, overwhelmed, grumpy, excited, or emotional. A successful photoshoot isn’t measured by how much a child smiles—it’s measured by capturing them authentically.
So if you’re worried that your little one won’t cooperate, please don’t stress. I’ve seen it all before, and I promise I’m not judging, rushing, or panicking.
We’ll play when they want to play. We’ll take a break when they need one. And together, we’ll capture those beautiful in-between moments that often end up being the most treasured photographs of all.
Just like we did with Blake.
