Why Family Photos Still Matter With Older Kids

Family photos matter in those elusive tween & pre-teen years.

(Yes, even when your calendar already looks impossible)

With 10+ years of family photography experience, I’ve noticed a common trend:
as kids enter the “tween” era, parents often stop booking family photos.

Is it the busier schedules? Sure—that’s part of it.
Is it that our society doesn’t exactly celebrate this in-between stage? Maybe.
Is it that your kids now have opinions… and one of those opinions is that family photos sound boring? Possibly.

Usually, it’s a combination of all three.

But after more than a decade of photographing families, I’ve also noticed something else—the families who keep showing up for photos during the tween years never regret it. They just learn how to adapt.

Let me show you what that can look like.

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The Tween Years Are Busy (Like, Logistically Busy)

If you’re parenting a tween or pre-teen, you don’t need me to tell you this—but I will anyway.

Your life might include:

• Back-to-back practices and rehearsals
• Homework that somehow takes longer than your work emails
• Weekends booked out a month+ in advance
• A calendar that deserves its own color-coding system

So when someone says, “You should schedule family photos,” your first thought might be:
When? Between soccer and piano? During the five free minutes on Thursday?

And honestly—that’s fair.

This is exactly why family photography for older kids has to look different than it did when they were toddlers.

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Why Family Photos With Tweens Still Matter (Maybe Even More)

Here’s the part busy parents often miss:
The tween years are a massive season of change.

Your kids are growing fast—physically, emotionally, and socially. They’re more independent, they are just beginning to figure out who they are… and sometimes they are experimenting with lots of different versions of themselves. They are at that age where they can sound like an adult one minute, and your sweet baby the next – oscillating between the past and the future.

Pre-teen family photos document:

• The in-between version of your kids (before everything shifts again)
• A new kind of connection between parent & child emerging (spoiler – I find these sessions are often the most laughter filled!)

AND on top of that – research shows that family photos in the home help instill a sense of belonging & confidence in kids… This continues on through the Pre-teen years.

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A Real-Life Example: The Brooks Family (And a 20-Minute Win)

I recently photographed the sweetest session with the Brooks family—mom, dad, and their two girls who are firmly in that in-between stage.

Not little.
Not grown.
Somehow taller every time you blink.

The full-on tween/pre-teen era.

Here’s the behind-the-scenes detail busy parents love:
👉 This was a 20-minute Petite Session.

Fast. Easy. Low-stress.

Because older kids can follow direction, move quickly, and don’t need constant entertaining, a shorter session is often more than enough. We had fun, kept things relaxed, and they walked away with plenty of beautiful images to choose from—without rearranging their entire week.

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Why Petite Sessions Work So Well for Tween & Pre-Teen Family Photos

Petite Sessions are one of my favorite options for families with tweens—and for good reason.

They’re perfect because:

• Tweens follow posing directions must faster than young kids
• The session fits easily between activities
• Kids stay engaged – things are fun & quick (and parents stay sane)

For families with packed schedules, a 20-minute session often feels doable—and that means photos actually happen instead of living forever on the to-do list.

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What Family Sessions With Pre-Teens Are Actually Like

A quick reassurance if you’re wondering how this will go:

Tween years photography isn’t about stiff poses or forced smiles.
It’s about letting kids show up as they are.

During sessions, I focus on:

• Light direction (nothing awkward or overly posed)
• Natural interaction and movement
• Creating space for real expressions and connection through conversations and/or games

Most tweens relax quickly once they realize they’re not being asked to perform. And parents are often surprised by how easy—and even enjoyable—the experience feels.
Sessions w/ Tweens & their families – often stand out to me as the most laughter filled sessions of my year.

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For the Parent Reading This With a Full Calendar

If you’ve been putting off family photos because life feels too busy right now, hear this:

You don’t need more time.
You just need the right approach.

The tween and pre-teen years are worth documenting—and with flexible options like Petite Sessions, they’re easier to fit into real life than you might think.

If you’re looking for a Nashville family photographer who works with tweens and pre-teens, I’d love to help you plan something that works for your schedule, not against it.

This season of your kid’s childhood is moving quickly—but it’s a special one too.
And it deserves to be remembered.

— Sarah

Interested in learning more about booking a family session? Contact me here!

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