By Shannon | Asheville Family Photographer

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If you’ve been searching for tips on doing family photos with kids in Asheville, you’ve come to the right place. I’m Shannon, and photographing families — little ones especially — is truly my favorite thing. Over the years I’ve chased toddlers through wildflower fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway, coaxed smiles out of newborns at the Arboretum, and yes, I’ve hidden mini marshmallows in a baby’s swaddle to get a big sibling to lean in just right. (More on that in a minute.)

Family sessions with kids are not about perfection. They are about real moments, real energy, and real love — and honestly? The chaos is part of what makes the photos beautiful.

Here’s everything you need to know before your Asheville family session so we can make the most of our photoshoot time together.

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The #1 Thing I Want Every Parent to Hear

Your kids do not need to sit still and cooperate perfectly for us to get incredible photos.

I hear it all the time: “I’m so sorry in advance — my toddler is wild.” Or “She’s in a phase right now, I don’t know how this is going to go.” And every single time, I want to say: it is going to go just fine.

My entire approach is built around meeting kids where they are. We play games. We run. We spin. We let the little ones do their thing, and I stay ready to capture the real stuff. If your session feels a little chaotic, that is completely normal — and we will absolutely still walk away with a gallery full of images you love.

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Before the Session: How to Set Your Kids Up for Success

A little prep goes a long way. Here’s what I tell every family ahead of their session:

Feed them. Please make sure your kiddos have eaten before we meet up. Hungry kids and cameras do not mix. And on that note — skip the sugary snacks or treats right before. I know it’s tempting to bribe with a lollipop on the way, but the sugar rush followed by the crash is not our friend.

Talk it through with them. If your child is old enough to understand, spend some time in the days leading up to the session explaining what we’re going to do. What is a camera? What does a photographer do? We’re going to go outside, run around, and someone is going to take pictures of our family. That kind of low-key prep takes away so much of the unknown for little ones who like to know what’s coming.

Bring their comfort items. That ratty stuffed animal they carry everywhere? Bring it. The blanket that goes to every single place? Pack it. The princess dress they haven’t taken off in three days? Let them wear it. I mean this. Comfort items are not a distraction — they are a gift. Some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken have a beloved lovey right in the middle of the frame, and those are almost always the images families treasure most.

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Age-by-Age Guide to Family Photos with Kids

Every age is different, and I’ve learned to love each stage for what it brings to a session.

Babies (0-12 months)

Babies are more flexible than people think — as long as we time the session around their schedule. The sweet spot is usually when they are fed, changed, and in that happy window before the next nap. I always encourage parents to build in a little extra buffer time in case of a last-minute feeding or blowout (it happens, no stress).

For newborns and young babies, so much of the magic lives in the details: tiny fingers wrapped around yours, the way they curl into your chest, the look on a big sibling’s face when they meet eyes with the baby. I use gentle prompts to help position everyone naturally, and I keep the pace slow and calm.

One of my favorite tricks? Hiding a mini marshmallow near the baby — tucked in their swaddle or near their little head — to encourage older siblings to get close and look in the right direction. It sounds silly, but it works every time and the results are genuinely sweet.

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Toddlers are my favorite chaotic energy to work with. They have no filter, no agenda, and absolutely no interest in standing still — which, honestly, makes for some of the best photos.

My approach with toddlers is simple: I make it a game. We race each other across the field. I tell them to run as fast as they can to mom and dad. We do ring around the rosie. We spin until we’re dizzy. All of that movement and laughter? That is the content.

My secret weapon for toddlers (and honestly kids of all ages) is mini marshmallows. They are small, easy to hide, and a totally manageable little reward that helps us stay on track without a sugar spiral. I use them to get eyes looking in the right direction, to encourage a hesitant kiddo to take one more step closer, or just as a little “you did great” moment between shots.

When a toddler hits a wall and needs a break, I let them take it. I’ll shift to working with parents or siblings while they reset, or sometimes the best images come from a parent just scooping them up and comforting them — those in-between moments are real and they are gorgeous.

Little Kids (4-7 years)

By this age, kids start to get a little self-conscious in front of the camera, which is totally normal. My job is to make them forget the camera is even there.

I give them things to do. “Can you show me how fast you can spin?” “Whisper the silliest secret you know into mom’s ear.” “Chase me — I bet you can’t catch me.” Once they are laughing and moving, the stiffness melts away fast.

This is also the age where their personality really shines through, and I love leaning into that. If they are obsessed with soccer, bring the ball. If they love dinosaurs, we can absolutely work that in. Letting kids feel like themselves in front of the camera makes all the difference.

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What to Wear for Family Photos in Asheville

A few quick notes since I get asked about this constantly:

Coordinate, don’t match. Think complementary colors rather than everyone in the exact same outfit. Earthy tones, muted blues, creams, and greens all photograph beautifully in Asheville’s natural settings.

Dress your kids in something they can actually move in. Stiff, uncomfortable clothes make for stiff, uncomfortable kids. If your little one hates wearing shoes, we can work around it. If they want to wear that cape, let them wear the cape.

And please — bring layers and a backup outfit for the littles if you can. Spills happen.

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On the Day Of: A Quick Checklist

• Everyone is fed (no sugar beforehand!)
• Comfort items are packed
• You’ve had a low-key morning — no rushing around
• Kids know we’re going to go outside and take some fun pictures
• Your expectations are set for a little chaos, and you’re ready to have fun with it

That last one is the most important. When parents are relaxed, kids feel it. And when everyone is just present and enjoying each other, that’s when the real magic happens in front of my camera.

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Ready to Book Your Asheville Family Session?

If you’re looking for an Asheville family photographer who actually loves photographing kids — the running, the spinning, the meltdowns and the marshmallow bribes included — I would love to hear from you.

Reach out and let’s start planning your session. I can’t wait to meet your family.

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Shannon | Asheville Family Photographer Serving Asheville, NC and the surrounding Western North Carolina (WNC) area.