As a Castle Rock Family Photographer and a mama who has survived (and documented) a decade of boy chaos, let me start with this truth bomb:
Perfect eye contact is the biggest myth in family photography.
Yep. I said it.
Trying to get every child—especially toddler boys—to look at the camera at the same exact moment is basically like waiting for a Yeti to stroll through downtown Castle Rock. Technically possible… but not something I recommend tying your hopes, dreams, and sanity to.
And trust me, I learned this the hard way.
Before I ever picked up a professional camera, I used to hire photographers for our annual family photos. My boys were tiny, enthusiastic explorers with zero interest in sitting pretty and smiling on cue. Every session ended with me sweating, bribing, borderline begging, and occasionally crying because I thought something was wrong with my family. Can’t we get one perfect photo? Why were my boys always running, wrestling, or staring at the photographer like startled baby deer?
Well… because they were toddlers.
And because “perfect” should never have been my goal.
Over time—and a few meltdowns later—I discovered something magical:
Family photos can be absolutely fantastic, heart-melting, wall-worthy, Christmas-card-superstar material even if not a single person is looking directly at the camera.
Honestly, they might be better that way.
Let me tell you why.
Real connection beats “say cheese” every time.
When your kids look at you, laugh with each other, or get absorbed in something wildly important (like a stick, a rock, or a bug), something beautiful happens: they forget about the camera.
And that’s when we get the good stuff—those scrunchy smiles, sparkly eyes, wild little personalities, and moments that scream, “This is us.”
One of my favorite photos ever taken of my teenager was from his “toddler-tornado” era. He was sprinting across a field when he suddenly paused, hair sticking up like he’d been struck by lightning, and shot the photographer a quick sideways glance. Smile less. No pose. Just pure curiosity and chaos.
It’s my favorite photo of him to this day because it feels exactly like who he was in that season.
Candid moments tell the real story of your family.
Your family doesn’t live life lined up like a police lineup staring at a lens. (If you do… we need to talk.)
You laugh.
You chase.
You cuddle.
You negotiate snacks.
You break up wrestling matches.
You twirl little ones.
You say things like, “Please stop licking the dog.” (Or is that just me???)
This is the real story—your story—and as a Castle Rock Family Photographer, those in-between moments are the ones I aim to capture every single session.
In my own family photos, the “posed” pictures always look a little… forced. But ask my boys to dogpile on each other, and suddenly they’re glowing with genuine joy. That’s the energy I want for your photos too.
Kids behave so much better when they don’t have to pose.
If you’ve ever tried to get a toddler or boy under twelve to “look right here!” you already know: this is an Olympic-level sport requiring stamina, bribery, and maybe a therapist.
Set them free.
Let them explore.
Let them run.
Let them be loud.
Let them be the wonderful chaos they already are.
And guess what? The photos, and you, will be happier for it.
This is exactly why I photograph families in the wide-open spaces around Colorado. When kids have room to roam, jump, explore, and be wild, I get to capture their personalities in action—and parents get to breathe instead of micromanage.
Candid images age WAY better than posed ones.
Years from now, you’re not going to care who looked where. You’re going to remember the feeling of that season of life.
Looking back at our own sessions, the images that tug at my heart the most are never the ones where we all happen to be facing the camera. They’re the ones where my boys are:
• barefoot in the mud
• throwing rocks into the river
• chasing each other
• full-body laughing
• clinging to their dad mid-toss
• or staring at the mountains like tiny philosophers
These are the photos that show who they are, not who they were told to be for three seconds. Besides, they don’t listen to us anyway…..
And honestly? The chaos is part of your family’s legacy.
During nearly every session, I hear the same apologies:
- “Sorry, they won’t hold still.”
- “Sorry, she’s wandering again.”
- “Sorry, he’s being wild.”
- “Sorry… they’re not cooperating.”
To which I say—with total sincerity:
Perfect. They’re doing it right.
Authentic family photos aren’t about perfection. They’re about connection.
They’re about personality. They’re about capturing the beautiful, ridiculous, unpredictable reality of raising kids.
As someone who has photographed countless families—and raised a very energetic one of her own—believe me when I say: chaos is not the enemy. Chaos is the charm. Embrace it.
So trust me, Mom and Dad: you’re doing it right.
Whether your kids are making silly faces, staring at squirrels, gazing at clouds, running wild, or flat-out ignoring my camera… you can still walk away with a gallery filled with emotional, meaningful, completely-you images.
That’s the magic of storytelling photography.
And from one Castle Rock mama to another:
Release the pressure.
Keep the joy.
Embrace the wild.
Take it from this Castle Rock family photographer, your best family photos might happen when absolutely no one is looking at the camera—and that’s exactly what makes them unforgettable.
