Make family photos feel less like a photoshoot and more like a fun day together!

Family photos don't have to mean getting everyone to stand still, look at the camera, and smile on command. In fact, some of my favorite family sessions are the ones where we give everyone something fun to do and let the kids be themselves!

Whether we're exploring the Monterey coast, grabbing ice cream, riding bikes together, spending an afternoon at home, or heading out on a family adventure, incorporating an activity into your session gives everyone a chance to relax and enjoy being together. It also gives little ones something to focus on besides the camera, which means we can capture all of those genuine laughs, curious moments, and family interactions along the way.

And if activities aren't really your thing, that's totally okay too! You can always bring along a few fun or meaningful props instead. I put together a whole blog with family photo prop ideas if you'd rather have a few things on hand to keep the kids entertained and add a little personality to your session!

Here are some of my favorite family session ideas around Monterey!

Things to Do Around Monterey

One of my favorite things about photographing families on the Monterey Peninsula is that there are so many places where you can turn your session into an actual family outing! Instead of spending time trying to keep everyone entertained in one spot, we can explore, play, grab a treat, or try something new together.

Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Make a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium part of your family session! The aquarium is such a fun option for families with little ones because there is always something to look at and explore. Watch the sea otters, look through the giant aquarium windows, explore the exhibits, and let the kids lead the way. Instead of asking everyone to pose, I can capture the excitement of seeing something new, the kids pointing things out to you, and all of those little interactions that happen naturally while you're exploring together.

Grab Chowder at the Wharf

Turn your family session into a little afternoon at the wharf! Grab a bowl of clam chowder, walk around the waterfront, watch the boats, look for sea lions, and enjoy a treat together.

Go Whale Watching

Why not make your session a little adventure out on the water? Go whale watching together and let me document the experience along the way! Watch for whales and dolphins, see the kids' reactions when something appears, and enjoy being out on the Monterey Bay together.

Rent a Four-Seater Bike

Rent one of those fun four-seater bikes from Adventures by the Sea in Monterey and cruise around the Monterey waterfront! Everyone can hop on together, kids can help pedal, and you can ride along the coast while I capture all of the laughs and chaos that come with trying to steer a family-sized bike. You could ride along the waterfront, head toward Lover's Point, or simply explore somewhere that feels fun for your family! This is such a great option for families who want lots of movement in their photos. Instead of asking kids to sit still, we're giving them somewhere to go!

Explore the Tide Pools

If your kids love getting their hands dirty and looking for little creatures, tide pooling can be such a fun family activity. Spend some time exploring the rocks, looking for crabs, anemones, shells, and other little sea creatures. Let the kids point things out, help each other climb around, and see what they can find. These moments naturally create photos of parents helping little ones, siblings exploring together, and kids being curious about the world around them.

Go Swimming

If your family loves the water and you're comfortable with it, make swimming part of your session! You could take a dip in the ocean, wade through the water, splash around with the kids, or spend some time playing at the beach before drying off and continuing with your photos. And you don't have to spend the entire session in the water! We can mix swimming with walking along the beach, exploring the coastline, playing in the sand, and relaxing together. Or if you're more of a hang out at the river type of family, let's go there instead!

Visit the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary

If your session falls during monarch season, make a stop at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove. Kids can look for butterflies, explore the area, and learn a little about what they're seeing while I capture the experience. It's a sweet seasonal activity that can make your family photos feel connected to the time of year you had them taken. Since monarch activity is seasonal, be sure to check current conditions and access before planning your session around a visit.

Go for a Hike at Palo Corona

For families who love getting outside, turn your family session into a little hiking adventure! Palo Corona Regional Park offers beautiful scenery and plenty of room for kids to explore. Depending on your family's age and ability, we can choose a trail that feels comfortable and enjoyable for everyone. Let the kids lead the way, look for wildlife, stop to explore something interesting, or simply enjoy walking together.

Have a Beach Day

Sometimes you don't need a complicated activity at all. Just have a beach day! Build sandcastles, collect shells, bring some snacks to feed the birds, splash in the water, skip rocks, or let the kids run around while you enjoy the sunshine. Beach sessions are especially great for little ones because there is so much for them to do naturally. And don't worry about getting a little sandy. Those messy, playful moments are often some of my favorites!

Get Ice Cream and Explore

Because what kid doesn't want ice cream during their family photos? Start your session off at Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop in Monterey, grab a scoop, let the kids choose their favorite flavor, and take a walk together afterward!

Things to Do at Home

You don't have to leave the house to create meaningful family photos! Sometimes the best place to document your family is right where you spend most of your time together.

Bake Something Together

Make cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or your family's favorite recipe! Let the kids help measure ingredients, stir the batter, decorate the cookies, and sneak a few tastes along the way!

Make Homemade Pizza

Give everyone their own section of the pizza and let the kids choose their toppings. You can photograph everyone cooking together, sneaking toppings, helping little siblings, and sitting down to enjoy the finished pizza. It's an easy activity that gives everyone something to do and naturally creates a lot of interaction!

Have a Backyard Picnic

Set out a blanket in the backyard, grab some snacks, and let everyone hang out together. You can bring bubbles, books, toys, drinks, or a few favorite snacks and let the kids play while I photograph the family interacting naturally. This is especially nice for families who want a more relaxed session without having to travel somewhere.

Have a Game Night

Break out your favorite board game, card game, puzzle, or even a deck of cards. Play together, tease each other, celebrate when someone wins, and let the kids get competitive! Games are a great way to get genuine reactions because everyone is focused on what they're doing instead of thinking about the camera.

Read Together

Pile everyone onto the couch, bed, or a cozy corner and read some of your family's favorite books together. You could even let each child pick their favorite book and take turns reading. It's a simple activity, but it can create some really sweet sibling and parent moments while documenting the little things you do together at home.

Play Outside

If your kids have a favorite backyard activity, let's use it! Play catch, kick a soccer ball around, draw with sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, play with the sprinkler, ride bikes, or just let them run around. The goal isn't to create a perfectly organized activity. It's to give your kids room to move and have fun while I capture them being themselves.

Tips for Keeping Little Ones Happy & Engaged

Family sessions are so much more fun when kids aren't expected to stand still for the entire time. Adventurous sessions let kids be themselves! They get to run, play, explore, and interact with their family, making every moment feel more natural and fun! These are a few of my favorite ways to keep your session fun and engaging, especially for the little ones!

Let Them Play!

Candid moments of your kids running around, playing with their favorite toys, or exploring their surroundings can make for some of the best photos. You don't need to constantly pull them back in for a posed picture. Let them wander, investigate, and be curious. I'll work with what they're naturally doing and step in when we need to bring everyone together!

Incorporate Movement

Walking, jumping, running, or even having a little dance party can help keep kids engaged and natural. Have Dad play airplane, let the kids ride on your shoulders, hold hands and run together, or have everyone jump around. These little moments create movement and genuine reactions while giving kids something fun to do.

Make It a Game!

Kids don't always want to follow directions for photos, but they usually love a good game! I might ask them to run to Mom and Dad for the biggest hug ever, see who can make the silliest face, find something specific along the trail, or race their siblings to a certain spot. Turning photos into a game takes away the pressure of having to “smile for the camera” and lets their personalities come through instead.

Snack Breaks Are Okay!

Bring snacks! A few little treats can be lifesavers for keeping energy up, especially during longer outdoor sessions. You can keep them in a tote bag or in the car and pull them out whenever we need a quick break. Just try to avoid anything particularly messy or likely to stain clothing if possible!

Bring a Few Familiar Things

If your little one has a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, toy, or other comfort item, feel free to bring it along.

You don't have to use it in every photo. Having something familiar nearby can help your child feel comfortable, especially if we're exploring somewhere new.

And if you're looking for more ideas for things to bring, check out my family photo prop ideas for more inspiration!

Give Them a Job

Sometimes the easiest way to keep kids engaged is to give them something important to do! Ask them to help carry the picnic basket, look for butterflies, find interesting rocks, help their younger sibling, hold onto a blanket, or look for birds. It gives them a reason to participate instead of feeling like they're being told what to do for photos.

Take Breaks When You Need Them

Don't worry if your kids need a break! If everyone needs a snack, some water, a bathroom break, or a few minutes to reset, we'll take it. There's no reason to rush through the session just to stay on a strict timeline. Some of the best photos can happen right after a little break when everyone is feeling refreshed and ready to have fun again!

Don't Stress About Perfect Behavior

Your kids don't have to behave perfectly for your family photos. They're kids! There might be some running, silly faces, meltdowns, dirty feet, or moments where nobody wants to cooperate. That's all part of real family life, and we can work with it. I'll still make sure we get those picture-perfect photos of everyone smiling, but your gallery can also include all of the silly, messy, joyful moments that actually feel like your family.

Make Your Family Session Part of the Experience

At the end of the day, family photos don't have to be about getting everyone to sit still and smile at the camera! They can be about spending time together, exploring somewhere new, letting the kids be kids, and documenting the little moments that make your family yours! Whether we're heading out for an adventure around Monterey or keeping things simple at home, I'm here to help create a session that feels relaxed, fun, and true to your family.

You don't need to know exactly what you want to do before booking. We'll figure out what makes sense for your family, your kids, and the kind of memories you want to document together.

Ready to make some memories with your family? Let's plan your session!