My Best Strategies for Mom and Me Photos . Denver Family Photographer

Amanda Evans
Apr 29
2 min read

Mother's Day is right around the corner and each year I ask my kids for the same thing - photos together! I hand the camera over to my husband and then get in front of it with each kid. Today, I'm sharing a few of my best strategies for great photos of moms with their kids (whether they're a teen or teeny tiny). I hope they inspire you to get in front of the camera this Mother's Day!

My first tip for any group is to INTERACT! For moms and their kids, I love these prompts especially:

Give your kiddo a big hug!
Give your mom a kiss on her cheek! Now let mom kiss you or blow a raspberry.
Mom, make a funny noise in their ear (or tell a joke)!
Can you two show me your best dance moves? Who's the better dancer?
Can you two touch noses?
Stand back to back - who's taller? Link arms or hold hands and laugh at each other.
Tickle you kiddo! (Or tickle your mom!)

Denver family photographer — Tickle and hug!

Denver maternity photographer — Dance! Twirl in a circle!

Second - Get close! This is pretty natural if your using the prompts from above. And here's the thing - if you want close, connected images - then you've got a get close and connected! Even with teenagers.

The closer you and your kiddo are, the closer the camera can be. So if you're cheek-to-cheek - that's a great close up shot. If you're holding hands dancing and swinging, then back the camera up and give some extra room so limbs don't get cut off in the frame and your final image feels balanced.

I always try to get heads as close together as possible - so hold babies up high, squat down to your toddlers level, or stand and hug your growing teen.

Denver newborn photographer — Hold that baby up high!

Okay, third. Practice! Both your camera person (maybe a spouse or partner or parent, in this case) and you and your kids will get better as you all practice. Hiring a professional, ahem, hi there! - from time to time, also helps everyone practice. When I see families a second time, it's amazing sometimes how much more natural the session feels because kids (and their parents) already know the kinds of things I'm going to ask of them because we've worked together before.