Last December, I spent twenty minutes chasing my five-year-old around the living room trying to get ONE decent photo. Just one. He had frosting on his face, his sister wouldn’t stop photobombing, and I nearly dropped my phone twice.
Eventually gave up. Ordered pizza. Called it a day.
That’s when my neighbor mentioned she’d used a professional for her holiday cards. “Wait, people actually do that?” I thought it was just for fancy families with money to burn. Turns out, searching for kids photography near me changed our entire holiday season. No joke—it was easier than I expected and way less stressful than my usual photo disasters.
Kids Don’t Sit Still (And That’s Okay)
My son has two speeds: asleep or tornado. There’s no in-between. Asking him to pose nicely is like asking a puppy not to chase squirrels. It’s just not happening.
But photographers who work with kids? They get it. They don’t fight the chaos—they work WITH it. Somehow they turn my wild child into someone who looks angelic in photos. Still don’t know their secrets. Maybe treats? Probably treats.
The thing is, those action shots where kids are being themselves actually look better anyway. My daughter mid-laugh because the photographer made a fart joke? That’s the photo I framed. Not the stiff one where everyone’s forcing smiles.
Backgrounds Matter (Who Knew?)
We did our session at this old downtown area with brick buildings. Hadn’t really thought about location before—I usually just snap photos wherever we happen to be standing.
Turns out the setting makes a huge difference. The warm brick, the vintage streetlights, even the old cobblestone added something special. Made the whole thing feel timeless instead of just “random Tuesday in December.”
Parks work great too. Friend of mine did hers with bare winter trees and that soft afternoon light. Looked like something from a magazine, honestly. Made me a little jealous.
The Wardrobe Nightmare Nobody Warns You About
Spent two hours picking outfits. TWO HOURS. My kids vetoed everything. “Too itchy.” “I hate buttons.” “This color is ugly.”
Eventually landed on: whatever they’d actually wear without complaining. My son wore his favorite sweater (had a tiny stain but whatever, positioned him so it didn’t show). Daughter picked a dress she’d worn before. Comfort won over perfection.
And guess what? Photos turned out amazing anyway. Happy kids always photograph better than miserable ones in fancy clothes they hate. That’s just facts.
Colors that worked: creams, deep reds, some green. Didn’t match exactly—more like coordinated without trying too hard. Nobody wants that awkward “we all shopped at the same store” look.
Finding Someone Good Takes Time
Scrolled through SO many websites looking for family photos Williamsburg VA photographers. Some were too posed and formal. Others were too artsy (not my style). Took a while to find someone whose work made me go “yes, THAT’S what I want.”
Pro tip: check reviews. Not just the ratings—actually read what people say. How’d the photographer handle cranky toddlers? Did the session feel rushed? Were they patient?
Found someone who specialized in working with young kids. She brought bubbles and had this goofy puppet that made my son crack up. The whole session felt more like playtime than work. We were there maybe 45 minutes? Kids didn’t even realize they were being photographed half the time.
Yeah It Costs Money But Hear Me Out
Not gonna lie—I balked at the price initially. Seemed steep for “just photos.” But then I thought about all the failed attempts. All the frustration. All those years of mediocre holiday cards with photos I wasn’t even proud of.
Plus these aren’t just for cards. These are the photos that’ll sit on my mantle. The ones I’ll show my kids when they’re grown. The ones that capture them exactly as they are RIGHT NOW—gap-toothed grins, messy hair, that specific way my daughter tilts her head when she smiles.
Can’t put a price on that, really. Though apparently you can, and it’s less than I thought it’d be.
Getting To Actually BE In Photos
Here’s something I didn’t expect: the photographer kept saying “mom, get in here.”
I’m never in photos. I’m always the one taking them. My phone is full of pictures of my kids, but barely any of me WITH my kids. When’s the last time that happened? Couldn’t even remember.
So we got family shots. All of us together, looking happy, no weird selfie angles or someone’s arm stretched out holding the phone. Just us. Normal and real and exactly how we are.
My daughter looked at them later and said “Mommy you look pretty!” which made me cry a little. Okay, a lot. I cried a lot.
Why Bother With All This?
Could’ve kept doing what I always do. Phone photos, crossed fingers, hoping one turns out decent. Probably would’ve ended up with the same results—nothing frame-worthy, nothing I’d actually want to send to relatives.
But I wanted something better this year. Wanted photos I’d be excited to look at. Wanted my kids to remember these holidays as fun, not as “that time mom got stressed about pictures again.”
And honestly? Mission accomplished. The photos are gorgeous. The kids had fun. I actually relaxed and enjoyed watching them instead of stressing behind a camera.
Next year we’re doing it again. Maybe earlier in the season when we’re not all exhausted from holiday madness. Maybe try a different location. But definitely hiring someone who knows what they’re doing.
Because trying to do everything yourself? It’s overrated. Sometimes you just need to let someone else handle it while you actually live in the moment. That’s what these memories are supposed to be about anyway—being present, not perfect.
Worth every penny. Every single one.
