She Knows Exactly What She Likes
If I could use one word to describe Hunter, it would be free-spirited.
This girl loves to put on her Elsa dress and twirl around the room, singing—okay, let's be honest, it's more like belting—"Let it go! Let it go!" at the top of her lungs. The minute any music comes on, she's grooving.
So when it was time for our yearly birthday session, I already knew exactly what we needed: music had to be part of it.
"Hey Siri, Play The Lorax Soundtrack"
Before we started shooting, I asked her what kind of songs she wanted to listen to. She was bouncing up and down on the bed when I asked, and the second the words left my mouth, she froze mid-jump. She looked straight at me, her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree, and the biggest smile spread across her little face. Then she threw both hands up in the air and shouted, "The Lorax!"
"You got it, girl," I said, pulling up the soundtrack.
The second the music started, I began dancing, probably looking pretty silly, and she giggled. Then she started dancing too, and we were both just laughing together. "Aren't we silly?" I said, still moving to the music.
And that's how we got started.
Kids Birthday Photo Sessions: Let Kids Choose
Here's something I've learned over the years: even at just 3 years old, kids already have so much personality. They know what they like, what makes them happy, and what feels like them. And honestly? That's exactly what I want to capture in kids birthday photo sessions.
For this session, Hunter picked out her outfit—cute white pants and this green dress she got from her cousin June. She picked the music. She even picked what we talked about during the shoot. And when you let kids have that kind of control, that's when the real magic happens.
I've also figured out this little trick: if I can get kids to yell "Hey Rachel!" over and over—sometimes in a loud voice, sometimes in a whisper—it gives me the most genuine smiles. No stiff poses. No cheese grins. Just pure, unfiltered joy.
Knowing When to Stop
We did Hunter's session indoors, and the whole thing lasted maybe 15 minutes. That's it.
And here's what I think is so important about kids birthday photo sessions: you absolutely have to learn to read the room. When kids are having fun, you can feel it. When they're done, you can feel that too. And once that energy shifts, you can't force it back.
Hunter was having a blast. She kept rolling around on the bed saying "This is fun! This is fun!" while "This is Thneedville" played in the background. She was so excited every time I asked her to try a new pose, dancing and singing along the whole time.
But after about 15 minutes, I could tell she was starting to lose interest. Her energy was shifting. So instead of dragging it out, I decided to go for one last shot.
One Last Jump
"Oh my gosh," I said, "can you show me how you jump SO high that you can touch the sky?"
She practically bounced with excitement. "Ohhh, like this?!" she said, and she started jumping. Up and down, up and down, higher and higher, her little legs bouncing her off the bed over and over.
Then she landed one last time, flopped onto the mattress, looked up at me and said, "Okay, I'm done."
And that was it. Session over.
No begging her to do one more pose. No bribing with snacks. No forcing her to sit still for a smile she didn't feel like giving.
Let Them Lead
And that's what I think makes kids birthday photo sessions so worth it. You're giving kids space to be themselves, to feel seen, to pick the music and wear what makes them feel good and call it quits when they're ready.
The best photos don't come from perfectly posed moments—they come from letting kids take the lead and just being there to capture it when they do.
Like free-spirited, Lorax-loving, bed-jumping girls who know exactly when they've had enough.
And just like she taught me that day—sometimes the best way to end is simple:
"Okay, I'm done."
Ready for a birthday session that's all about your kid? Let's do this. ( Book here)
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