I say this as a joke, but I know mom's are truly curious... So here we go!

I have worked with hundreds of families at this point, and I can tell you that most men are the same. They DON'T WANT TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. Pictures aren't a huge priority to them, and I get it. It's awkward. You have to leave work early, or take a day of vacation or their weekend off to do something they personally would rather not do. But you know what? I can honestly say that I have NEVER had a dad leave one of my sessions regretting it. Honestly, almost every time they end up thanking me just as much as the mom! So how do I do it?

Acknowledgement


I acknowledge their hesitation. Listen, I have a fiance that HATES taking pictures, and a dad who hates them even more! In my experience, acknowledging that they'd rather be watching football, and promising to make the session as quick and painless as possible, really eases their spirits.

Taking Care of the Rest of the Family


I always tell the parents at the very start of the session to let me take care of the kids. If they are acting unrully, please please please do not feel like you need to keep them in order. I got you! And to be honest, this is something I'm rather good at :) I want to the parents to be as relaxed as possible and to take a break from parenting so I can make the magic happen. Taking this burden off of both mom and dad really helps the tension!

Verbal Affirmations


Whether it be jokes, or telling the whole family how good theyre doing, I find dad's(and mom's) always relax a bit when EVERYONE is laughing and having a good time.



A loving family embraces on a sunny beach with soft waves in the background during golden hour. CHARLESTON
Father and daughter playing at Folly Beach, South Carolina
A romantic couple shares a tender moment outdoors as she playfully covers his eyes with flowers in a dreamy setting. CHARLESTON

And lastly, I give them prompts that are natural, fun, and reminds them that they are loved as a father.

A cozy nursery scene with a navy blue metal crib, a black dog on the floor, and framed artwork on the light walls.

I hope this puts your mind at ease when you are planning your session.

And just remind him (and yourself) that this one hour of your life will bring you so much joy for years and years to come. It's about the legacy, not the session.