Three tween girls and mom play tug of war in backyard with white Labrador, while the sunset behind him and casts warm light flitered through oak trees.

If you have a teenager at home, you already know that getting them to enthusiastically agree to anything involving the whole family is a big lift. So the idea of booking a family photo session, showing up somewhere beautiful, and asking your fifteen-year-old to smile genuinely while standing next to their little sibling? Probably too much to ask. 😉 I regularly hear from parents of older kids who wonder whether they've simply missed the window.

Here's what I want you to know: your kids are not too old. While I understand parents’ reservations, in my experience sessions with tweens and teens are some of the most fun, creative, and lively sessions I do.

Family of five, with three tween girls, walk down stone steps with white labrador running down between them.

The Fear That Keeps Families From Booking

The worry I hear most often goes something like this: "My kid is going to be ornery," or "She'll refuse to participate," or "He'll just stand there looking like he'd rather be anywhere else."

As a fellow parent of two teenagers, I completely understand where that worry comes from. Life with a teen is full of eye rolls, sighing, and calling me “bruh”. I live this and I get it.

But just like in real life, underneath those tough or cool exteriors, is a tender and curious kid. Moreover, that tender kid actually appreciates the excuse to have connected, wholesome-feeling family time. They just need the right conditions and someone who genuinely meets them where they are.

Kaleidoscope image of family of five with three teen daughters, as they stand in backyard with setting sun behind them.

Mom, Dad, and three daughter stand in group hug and make silly faces at the camera, while standing in their backyard with trees, green grasses and a wooden fence.

My Approach to Family Photography Sessions with Teens

Celebrate Tweens’ and Teens’ Maturity

There is so much to celebrate when working with tweens and teens. They’re funny. They’re (more or less) composed. They have a sense of style and know what they like and what they don’t like. I make sure to laugh, praise, and affirm. Sure, they might give me an eye roll or comment on my direction being ‘cringe’ but we can also laugh about it. Sessions with these kids tends to be more collaborative with them making suggestions for what they think a cool photo would be. And an added bonus, tweens and teens are far less likely to have a meltdown or wipeout than the toddler set, at least for the hour or two that were together. 🥴

Two tween sisters sit in yellow chairs in front of a wooden fence in the backyard of their Lafayette home. They are both looking at the camera and smiling. Taken during a lifestyle family photo session.

Teen girls laughs and switches her long hair, while standing in her backyard during family photoshoot.

Be Curious About The Lives of Tweens and Teens

I’m old enough now that my own teenage years actually do feel far away. Gen Z kids doubly feel like an enigma to me with their special language, dance moves, hobbies, tastes and preferences. I’m genuinely curious about their inner lives and they’re surprisingly happy to share with adults who aren’t their parents. Asking relevant questions and really listening to their answers is a powerful way to connect with anyone. It’s one of the best ways I get tweens and teens to not only be open to the experience of doing family photos, but also make them actively motivated to participate. The best is when they tell you about a dance move or a sport they play and then proceed to actually give a live demonstration. 😉

Two tween sister bounce and kick soccer balls, while a third sister stand on a scooter and smiles.

Set Kids and Parents Up for Success at Family Sessions

If a tween is super self-conscious about being photographed in public, we opt for a home session. If a teen can’t be up before 11am on a weekend, we opt for a sunset session. If the parents are pre-occupied with worry their teen will be rude, I reassure them that I take nothing personally and I have two teens at home. We are all going to be fine!

Dad and daugther play tether ball in backyard, next to mom who is playing with white lab puppy, while two sister behind them play volleyball.

The family featured in this post decided to lean into the fact that our session fell during Friday happy hour. The parents made themselves cocktails, the mood lifted immediately, and it was a fantastic session. That is the kind of flexibility and creativity I love. 🤩 The bottom line is that I work make sure the parameters of our session serve to elevate, create ease, and elicit cooperation and collaboration.

Family portrait of a mother and father leaning into each other in the backyard of their home in Lafayette. They both smile at the camera, with one arm around each other and the other in their respective pockets.

It's Not Too Late to Document Family Life

If you didn't get a lot of photos made when your kids were small, please hear this: it is not too late. Your family right now, with your lanky fifteen-year-old and your almost-there twelve-year-old, is absolutely worth documenting. This stage is fleeting too. The way they look right now, the way they interact with you, the specific kind of funny they are… all of it is worth capturing before it shifts into the next version of them.

These are the photos you will want. The ones where you can see exactly who they were at this age. The ones they might even be glad exist someday.

I photograph families across San Francisco, Marin, the East Bay, and the broader Bay Area, and I would genuinely love to meet your teen(s). Reach out here and let's figure out a session that works for where your family actually is right now: eye rolls, great taste, and all.