I still remember the early days of photographing families—standing in a pretty field, camera in hand, heart racing, and thinking:
“Okay… what do I do now?”
I’d start with a pose or two, then immediately feel the energy shift. The toddler would run off. The dad would start checking out. The vibe would feel… chaotic.
I didn’t know what to say.
I didn’t know how to guide them.
I definitely didn’t feel in control.
It’s not that I didn’t care or wasn’t trying—I just didn’t have a plan.
Winging It Only Works Until It Doesn’t
I tried winging it for a while. I’d rely on a few poses that worked sometimes… until they didn’t. Some sessions felt magical. Others felt like total guesswork.
I’d drive home wondering:
- Did I get enough?
- Was that gallery going to come together?
- Why did that feel harder than it needed to?
Spoiler: It wasn’t just me. It was the lack of a clear session rhythm.
What Changed Everything: A Simple, Strategic Session Flow
The turning point came when I developed a real session flow—the one I still use and teach in The Ultimate Posing Guide.
Not a shot list. Not rigid poses.
A flexible, reliable sequence that helps me:
- Warm up the family
- Build momentum and trust
- Capture a variety of prompts quickly
- End with high-energy play or quiet snuggles
My flow is designed to maximize variety in a short amount of time, so I’m never scrambling or shooting aimlessly.
It also allows me to move confidently through a session—even when things get wild (because toddlers are going to toddler).
When You Have a Flow, Clients Feel It Too
The magic isn’t just in how I feel—it’s in how the families respond.
When I show up with a plan, they relax faster. They stop worrying about what to do with their hands or how their kids are behaving. They trust me.
And suddenly, I’m not just taking photos—I’m guiding an experience.
The Best Part? My Sessions Are Easier—and Better.
Since building this session flow, I’ve been able to:
- Capture full galleries in less time
- Move through posing transitions smoothly
- Keep sessions light, joyful, and on-track
- Actually enjoy myself while shooting
And the images? They speak for themselves. Natural, connected, storytelling moments that feel like them—not just something I told them to do.
Want to Use My Exact Session Flow?
It’s all inside The Ultimate Posing Guide—my go-to resource that gives you:
- The same strategic session flow I use
- The “Golden Rules” of guiding families
- Over 100 real-life prompts (organized by family groupings)
- Tricks for engaging kids, handling chaos, and getting a full gallery fast
Grab The Ultimate Posing Guide here
Once you have a flow that works, everything gets easier—your confidence, your client experience, and your images.
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