Children’s Photography in Richmond, BC: Letting Kids Be Themselves

— Childhood Photography

"Oh My Gosh, That Is SO Them."

That’s what I hope you’ll say when you see your photos. That you recognize the little expressions you see every day, even the ones you haven’t quite managed to catch on your phone.

My photography sessions in Steveston Village, Richmond, BC are child-led. There’s guidance from me, but room for your child to warm up, move around and show me who they are. They don’t need to know how to pose or be ready to smile at a stranger.

What does child-led photography mean?

For me, it means paying attention to who's in front of me and adjusting how I work.

Some children want to tell me everything the moment they arrive. Others want to stay close to you and watch for a while. I can start a conversation, suggest something to do or give them a little space before asking anything of them.

I’m still thinking about the light, composition and where to position everyone. You don’t have to direct the session. I bring the photography skills; your child gets to be a child.

Two smiling children standing close together, one with an arm around the other’s shoulders, against a white background.

BEYOND THE CAMERA SMILE

Kids often have a camera smile. You know the one. Suddenly there are about 47 teeth, and their eyes are doing something completely different.

I want the face that comes after that. The one that comes naturally when they aren’t trying and are just being themselves. A little grin, a sideways glance, a huge laugh, or that thoughtful face when they’re busy figuring something out.

Those are some of my favourite things to photograph.

They can move around. Talk my ear off. Take a while to decide if they like me. Be shy. Be loud. Investigate everything in the room.

The session is pretty much all about them anyway.

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS SHY OR WON’T SIT STILL?

You don’t need to wait until your child is older, more outgoing or better at following instructions to have photographs of them.

A child who’s slow to warm up might need to see what I’m doing before joining in. Someone who wants to move might respond better to something active than being asked to sit still again. Sometimes a break is more useful than another request.

You don’t need to apologize for their personality.

Young child with blue bows in her hair holding a soft grey elephant beside her face, leaning on a woven stool against a cream background.

I’VE WORKED WITH KIDS FOR A LONG TIME

Before photography, I spent nearly 30 years in healthcare. That experience taught me to pay attention to how someone communicates, what helps them feel comfortable and when to change my approach.

If there’s something I should know about your child, tell me. Maybe they’re neurodivergent. Maybe they don’t like being touched. Maybe they need to know what’s happening before it happens. Maybe they have a particular interest that gets them talking.

Maybe they’re four and woke up choosing chaos.

We can talk through what might help rather than expecting every personality to fit the same session.

PHOTOGRAPHS THAT FEEL LIKE YOUR CHILD

Often, it’s while we’re chatting or playing that a familiar expression appears. The grin you see at home, or the way they lean into their sibling just before making them laugh.

A serious expression can be just as familiar as a happy one. I’m looking for more than a collection of smiles.

I love being able to give you a photograph you recognize immediately. Something you can look at and think,

“Oh my gosh, that is so them.”

If this sounds like the right approach for your child, explore my childhood photography sessions in Steveston, Richmond, BC.