I know many people get nervous about having pictures taken of their family, especially if they have young kids. Some even avoid family photos altogether because they worry about how their kids will act. Will they be cooperative? Will they run away? Will they refuse to smile? I’m here to say that these are all totally normal fears.

I thought showing you what a typical family photo session looks like might allay some of your fears.

This is the N family, a family of five that I photographed for the first time this past fall at Springview-Johnson Park in Rocklin.

To make family sessions more enjoyable, I often lead families in short games (because what kid doesn’t love games?!).

Like the game of telephone! Remember that one?!

Or Ring Around the Rosie. Except instead of falling down at the end, I encourage family members to hug!

Most of the time, there is some running around mom and dad — and if I bring a blanket, the kids LOVE to dart underneath it.

Sometimes, there is dancing and twirling and singing — it all depends on the kids’ ages, interests, and the dynamics of the family.

Kids always love to hear whispered compliments — like what makes their mom or dad most proud of them.

That’s not to say there won’t be some chaos during the session (we are dealing with unpredictable kids!).

And when the chaos comes, it’s so important to keep the atmosphere light and relaxed and fun. I remind parents that no matter what happens, it’s best to just continue to smile and laugh and play.

Because when you see your gallery of beautiful images, you’ll be so glad you stayed calm and relaxed during the session.