Vancouver BC Family Fun - WILD FLOWER SUMMER SESSIONS Vancouver Family Summer Portrait Sessions / Vancouver Family Photoshoot - PLUS A trick for getting natural smiles!

When we first started this beautiful summer family photoshoot in the Vancouver wildflowers, our sweet little subject greeted us with what I like to call a “reserved smile” — that polite, slightly stiff smile children often give when they’re not quite sure what to expect. You know the one… the “fake smile” that says, “I’m not totally sure about this, but I’ll go along with it.”

But it didn’t take long for things to shift.

With the gentle encouragement of her loving parents and a few of my favorite photo session tricks, she blossomed right in front of the camera. Her shy demeanor gave way to her most natural, animated, and delightful self — and before we knew it, we were all laughing, playing, and truly capturing what makes family photos so special.

Want to know my secret for those natural, joy-filled expressions? One word: movement. In particular — jumping off my posing crates! It works like a charm every time. Kids love the freedom, and those mid-air giggles are pure gold. The bonus? Parents get pulled into the fun too, creating even more candid, love-filled moments that tell a real story.