I've been photographing families in Bergen County and the Fort Lee area for years. And in that time, I've noticed something: the sessions that go sideways almost never go sideways because of gear or lighting. They go sideways because of things that happen before we even start shooting.

Here are the five most common ones.

1. Scheduling It During Nap Time

This sounds obvious. It happens constantly.

A two-year-old who skipped their nap is not going to suddenly become cooperative because a camera is pointing at them. When you're picking your session time, look at your kids' schedules first and work backward. Golden hour is ideal for light, but if that conflicts with meltdown hour for your toddler, we can find another option.

Ask me. I'll work with you.

2. Overhyping It to the Kids

The week-long buildup. The "we need to be on our best behavior" speech. The morning-of pep talk in the car. I understand the impulse. It never helps.

Kids who are over-prepared feel pressure. Pressure produces stiff, fake smiles and the exact look you were trying to avoid. The sessions that produce the most natural photos are the ones where the kids showed up thinking they were going for a walk and a photographer happened to be there.

Keep it casual. Don't make it a big deal. Let me do the work.

3. Trying to Coordinate All the Outfits the Morning Of

I've had families show up with four people in four completely different color families because nobody did a trial run. I've had dads show up in a wrinkled shirt because "it was in the car."

Outfits should be decided, tried on, and hung up at least three days before the session. Not laid out the night before. Tried on and confirmed. Kids grow. Things don't fit the way you remembered. Buttons are missing.

Deal with this on a Tuesday. Not at 4pm on the day of your shoot.

4. Bringing Snacks That Stain

Blueberries, popsicles, tomato sauce, anything red or purple. These are all foods that have appeared on children's faces at sessions I've shot.

If you need to bribe your kids through a session with snacks, I fully support that strategy. Just make it crackers. Goldfish. Something beige.

5. Expecting Everyone to Cooperate at Once

Here's the thing nobody tells you: getting a great group shot doesn't require everyone to cooperate simultaneously. It requires me to take enough frames that the right one exists somewhere in the batch.

Your job is not to make everyone perfect. Your job is to show up, be present, and trust the process. I'll handle the rest.

The families who enjoy their sessions the most are the ones who come in with low expectations and a sense of humor. Every single time, those are also the families who end up with their favorite photos.

Ready to book? Let's do it.

Is it golden hour yet?Andrew