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Podcast, Family

Family Photography Tips with Naomi Hopkins

Naomi Hopkins explains how taking charge of a family session, learning each family's real story, and managing expectations leads to images clients treasure.

Mon 02 Nov 2026
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Photographers will learn how to take charge of a family session so parents can relax and be present, and how to uncover the small, specific details that make a family's story worth photographing. Naomi Hopkins also shares how she manages client expectations between the shoot and the gallery delivery, and how she handles sessions that go badly.

Naomi grew up around photography through her father's wedding business and came to family photography later, after running other businesses and starting her own studio to help fund an adoption. She talks about setting the tone at the start of a session, asking parents questions that reveal what truly matters to their family, and staying in touch with clients during the wait for their gallery so trust keeps building.

About Naomi Hopkins

Naomi Hopkins is a family photographer based in Georgia who grew up around photography through her father's wedding business, Prince's Bride Photo. She started her own photography business to help fund a domestic adoption after working in gym management, marketing, and running a beauty salon, and now also mentors other photographers through workshops and retreats.

Key takeaways

1. Set the tone before the camera comes out

Naomi tells parents at the start of every session that the kids are hers for the next hour and that the parents' only job is to make memories, kiss freckles and have fun. This takes the pressure off parents to control their kids' behaviour and lets everyone relax into the session.

2. Ask why, not just what

A mother's request to photograph her sons' hands led Naomi to learn the deeper reason behind it, that the mother treasured the feeling of her boys' hands still fitting in hers. Asking clients why a detail matters to them uncovers the real story worth capturing instead of guessing at trends.

3. Use the questionnaire to find real prompts

Naomi builds her direction and prompts from what she learns about a family's everyday life, like how a parent comforts a child having a hard day or what they imagined their teenager would be like. This gives her genuine reactions that no generic prompt could create.

4. Bring small tools that keep kids cooperative

Naomi brings mini marshmallows to sessions because they are gluten free, hard to choke on, don't stain and work as an easy reward. Small practical tools like this help keep young children engaged without much fuss.

5. Keep communicating after the shoot to build trust

With a longer turnaround of about six weeks, Naomi sends clients a card after the session highlighting what she loved about their family, then a sneak peek message around the four week mark. This steady, genuine encouragement keeps clients calm and excited instead of anxious while they wait.

6. Protect yourself and your boundaries when a session turns difficult

When a father was openly rude and unhappy throughout a shoot, Naomi made clear in the moment and afterward that she would not Photoshop a smile onto an unwilling adult. She also learned to be honest with herself about when a client relationship is not a good fit going forward.

7. Know the why behind your technical choices

Naomi encourages the photographers she mentors to understand why they adjusted an ISO, chose a composition or pulled an image into Photoshop, rather than repeating habits without thought. Being able to explain your choices builds the confidence clients are looking for when they hire a professional.

Favourite moments

"Go get your family photos taken."

Naomi Hopkins

"It is so vulnerable. It is stressful."

Naomi Hopkins

"I will worry about if I need your kid to smile, if I need them to cooperate. You paid a lot of money for me to do that. You are not working here, I am."

Naomi Hopkins

"When you feel like you've arrived, you've failed."

Naomi Hopkins

Listen to the full episode

Watch the episode above, or listen to Family Photography Tips with Naomi Hopkins on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get kids to cooperate during a family photoshoot?

Naomi tells parents at the start of the session that the kids are hers to direct for the hour, which takes the pressure off the parents. She also brings small rewards like mini marshmallows to keep younger kids engaged and willing.

How do you handle a difficult or unwilling parent during a session?

Naomi stays firm but kind, reminding parents that if they yell at their kids no one will enjoy the photos or the experience. She also sets a clear boundary in her contract that she will not edit someone's facial expression, since an adult chooses their own expression.

What questions should I ask family clients before a session?

Naomi builds her prompts around a detailed questionnaire that asks about everyday routines, like how a parent comforts a child or what they loved about their kid at a certain age. These answers give her genuine, specific moments to prompt for during the shoot.

How do you keep family photography clients happy while they wait for their gallery?

Naomi sends a handwritten card after the session highlighting what stood out about the family, then a sneak peek message around four weeks later before the full six week delivery. This steady communication builds trust and keeps clients excited rather than anxious.