Head-Butts & Heart-Melts: Our Family Photo Shoot Reality (and how to get those perfect pics anyway!)

Okay, so you guys saw the sneak peeks of our latest family photos, right? And I know what you're thinking, "Lo, how do you get your kids to look so perfect and happy and like angels all the time?!" Hahahah. Lemme tell you, the reality is a whole lot messier, and honestly, a whole lot funnier, than what you see in those perfectly curated squares. I mean, I literally got head-butted TWICE during this shoot. By my own children. And you know what? 10/10 would recommend doing it all again, bc my heart is just so full looking at these. They're not just photos, they're memories, and they capture us exactly as we are right now, head-butts and all. I just knew I had to share the real deal with you guys, bc I feel like we all need a little more realness in our lives, especially when it comes to something as seemingly 'perfect' as family photos.

I'm gonna walk you through our whole experience, from the pre-shoot jitters to the actual chaos, and then share some of the things I've learned over the years that help us get those genuine, heart-melting shots, even when it feels like everything is going wrong. Bc trust me, it often feels like everything is going wrong hahah.

The Pre-Shoot Jitters: What Was I Thinking?!

Every single time we book family photos, I get this little pit in my stomach. It's like, I know we *should* do them, bc these little girls are growing up so fast and I want to freeze every single moment, but also... family photos with three kids? One of whom is a baby who has her own schedule and two toddlers who have their own very strong opinions? It's a lot. It's a lot of planning, a lot of coordinating, and a lot of praying that everyone will be in a good mood on the day. I swear, the universe knows when you have something important planned, bc that's when all the meltdowns decide to make an appearance. I'm not even kidding. I was up late the night before, laying out outfits, trying to visualize how it would all go, and honestly, mostly just stressing. Tanner is always my hype man, like "Babe, it'll be great! We got this!" And I'm just like, "You say that now, wait until Stella decides she only wants to wear her unicorn pajamas and Ozzy refuses to look at the camera." Hahahah. It's a tale as old as time in our house.

Outfit Planning: Comfort Over Everything (Mostly)

Okay, so outfits. This is always a big one, right? You want everyone to look cohesive and nice, but also, you're dealing with kids. My number one rule now is comfort is king. If the kids aren't comfortable, it's game over before it even begins. For this shoot, I went with a pretty neutral palette – creams, browns, some soft textures. I feel like neutrals just always work, and they don't distract from the actual people in the photos. I found these adorable little dresses for Stella and Ozzy that were soft and flowy, not itchy or restrictive. And for Cherry, just a simple little onesie. Tanner and I coordinated with similar tones. I always try to pick something that feels like *us*, not something we'd never wear normally. I also always have backup outfits, just in case. You never know when a juice box or a muddy puddle will strike! I've learned the hard way that trying to force a fancy, stiff outfit on a toddler is a recipe for disaster. Let them move, let them play, let them be themselves. That's when you get the real smiles anyway.

The Shoot Day: Head-Butts, Hugs, & Everything In Between

So, the day of the shoot. We picked a beautiful outdoor location, which is always my favorite. Natural light just hits different, you know? We got there, and for the first five minutes, everyone was actually pretty good! I was like, "Yes! We're crushing it!" And then, as if on cue, Stella decided she was done posing and wanted to explore every single rock and stick. Ozzy, bless her heart, was in a very strong "no" phase, which meant every suggestion from the photographer was met with a firm shake of the head. And baby Cherry? Well, she was just being a baby, which means sometimes she's happy, sometimes she's hungry, and sometimes she just wants to stare blankly into the distance hahah. That's when the head-butts happened. Stella, in a moment of pure toddler exuberance, decided my stomach was the perfect launching pad for a hug. Twice. My photographer, bless her soul, just kept laughing and capturing it all. And honestly, that's what made it so special.

We played games, we sang songs, we tickled, we threw leaves. We let them run around and just be kids. Our photographer was so good at just letting us interact naturally and capturing those in-between moments. Those are always my favorites anyway – the genuine giggles, the spontaneous hugs, the little hand-holding. I feel like sometimes we get so caught up in trying to get that one perfect, posed shot, that we forget the magic is in the messy, authentic moments. And when I look back at these photos, I don't see the head-butts or the meltdowns. I see the love. I see the joy. I see my family, perfectly imperfect, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Finding the Right Photographer: A Game Changer

This is probably one of my biggest tips. Finding a photographer who not only has a style you love but also gets kids is absolutely essential. Our photographer is amazing with our girls. She knows how to engage them, how to make it fun, and how to just let them be themselves. She doesn't get flustered when they're not cooperating, which helps *me* not get flustered. She understands that sometimes the best shots come from letting them run wild for a bit and then catching them in a sweet moment. It's not about forcing smiles; it's about creating an environment where genuine smiles happen naturally. If you're looking for family photos, ask around for recommendations, look at their portfolios, and make sure they have experience with little ones. It makes all the difference, trust me. It's like having another patient, understanding adult on your team, which is priceless when you're trying to wrangle three tiny humans.

Embrace the Chaos: It's All Part of the Story

I used to stress so much about family photos being perfect. Like, everyone smiling at the camera, perfectly posed, not a hair out of place. But with each kid, I've learned to let go a little more. Now, I actually *love* the chaos. I love the photos where Stella is making a silly face, or Ozzy is looking at her shoes instead of the camera, or Cherry is just staring off into space. Those are the real moments. Those are the memories we'll laugh about later. Bc life with three little girls is chaotic, it's messy, it's loud, and it's absolutely beautiful. And I want our photos to reflect that. I want them to tell the story of *us*, right now, in this season of life. So, if your kids are having a meltdown during your photo shoot, or your baby is refusing to look at the camera, just breathe. Laugh it off. Let the photographer capture it. Those might just be the photos you cherish the most, bc they're real. They're authentic. They're *yours*.

The Takeaway: Just Do It!

So, even after getting head-butted twice and wondering if we'd get a single good shot, I'm so, so glad we did these photos. They are everything to me. They capture this fleeting moment in time with my sweet family, and I know I'll look back on them for years and years and just feel so much love. If you're on the fence about family photos, my advice is just do it! Don't wait for the perfect moment, bc honestly, the perfect moment doesn't exist. Just embrace the beautiful, messy, chaotic reality of your family, find a photographer who gets it, and let them capture the magic. You won't regret it. I promise. My heart is just bursting, I love my fam so much :,)