Let your little ones express their personality with some toys and props laid out on a blanket.

Yes, they're cute, yes, everyone wants to have them, but I can guarantee they're not going to be your favorite. So have them taken at the beginning & then just let go & have fun with your kid. The candid shots are the ones you're going to appreciate more.

Think of a fun activity for your shoot to share with your kids. It can be building a sand castle, collecting autumn leaves, building a snowman, or whatever else you wish.

Since they're participating, they can also make the rules...for a little while. Let them choose the poses for a couple of pictures or dress up in their favorite costume - you'd be surprised of how creative they can be!

Toddler, child, or teen - I know not all of them love the camera. So to let them feel more included, let's take a couple of pictures of their interests - their favorite instruments, hobbies, and so on.

You don't have to have your photo session at home. Book it in a foreign city and ask the photographer to take the pictures while showing your family around.

Do you have someone in college? Or a kid that's part of their school's sports team? Or a husband that loves his favorite basketball team, just a little too much? Have all of them bring out their gear and rep their colors!

Take a walk through the ground of the school, kindergarten, or college of your child, together. This way you will have plenty of pictures of the place where they spent so many years of their life.

Do you have an extended family? Include your grandparents, let your older children bring their children, & have fun with the generational levels. Sit in order, from youngest to oldest, the oldest one holding the youngest one, the possibilities are endless.

Realistically speaking, how many pictures of standing around & smiling do we really need? Let's have fun with something different. Let's have you cook something together, or the whole family playing in the leaves, or dad showing them how to fix something.