Why Your Child’s Energy (and Your Dog’s Zoomies) Might Be the Best Thing for Your Family Portraits
If you’ve ever thought, “There’s no way we could do a photo session—my kid doesn’t stop moving and the dog’s completely bonkers,” I hear you.
But I’m here to tell you: that wild energy? That’s not a problem—it’s the magic.
As a Brisbane Dog and Neuro Diverse family photographer (and a dad to a high-energy neurodiverse kid and a dog who can’t sit still), I’ve learned that the most meaningful photos don’t happen in the quiet, posed moments. They happen when your child is mid-sprint, giggling with wind in their hair, and your dog is bounding along beside them like it’s the best day of their life.
That’s when I see your family’s story.
The myth of the ‘perfect’ photo
There’s this old idea that family photos must be neat and posed and still. That everyone must look at the camera at the same time with matching smiles. But if that’s not your reality—why would we try to fake it?
Real life is movement. It’s joy. It’s unpredictability. Especially when neurodiverse kids and excitable dogs are involved. And when we stop trying to contain that and start leaning into it, something amazing happens.
Movement = Emotion
When your child is free to run, spin, jump, or dance—whatever their body needs—they relax. They show you, their joy. And when your dog joins in with a face licking tongue, it becomes this spontaneous moment of connection that can’t be planned. But it can be captured.
That’s what I’m looking for in every session. Not just smiles—but the why behind the smile. The relationships. The energy. The freedom. Those are the images that end up framed on walls for decades.
Let them lead the way
I never ask a child to be anything but themselves. And that includes stimming, talking a mile a minute, or needing to run in circles before they feel ready. I’ll follow their lead. I’ll follow your dog’s lead. That’s when the most powerful, heartwarming photos come to life.
Some of my favourite portraits have come seconds after a wild game of chase, or right in the middle of what parents might have worried was ‘too chaotic.’ Trust me—it’s not too much. It’s exactly right.
Why it matters
We don’t take these photos for social media or a picture-perfect feed. We take them to remember how it felt to love your family just as they are. The energy, the spirit, the beautifully imperfect moments you’ll want to look back on years from now.
So, if you’ve been holding off because your child can’t sit still or your dog goes full zoomie mode in new places, good!! You’re in the right place.
I’ll meet your chaos with calm, your movement with patience, and your story with open eyes and an open heart.
Let’s create artwork that captures the wild, wonderful rhythm of your family.
