How to Get Your Reluctant Husband On Board for Family Photos in Melbourne (Yes, Really)

If the mention of "family photos" makes your husband groan and suddenly remember something urgent he has to do that day, you are not alone. I hear this from almost every mum I work with. She's the one who wants it, she's the one who's been thinking about it for months and he's the one hoping it just quietly goes away.

I get it and I'm going to tell you what actually helps.

Why does he hate this so much?

Honestly, it's rarely about you or the kids. It's usually about him. Standing around not knowing what to do with his hands, worrying he'll look awkward, feeling like he's being told to smile on command for 45 minutes. Most blokes just don't love being looked at, let alone photographed.

Once you get that it's nerves and not disinterest, it's a lot easier to work with, not against.

What actually helps

A few things I've noticed make a real difference.

Keep it short. Nobody, including the kids, wants to stand around for two hours. A family session that's run well in Melbourne shouldn't take much longer than 30 to 45 minutes. Tell him that upfront, it takes the "how long is this going to drag on for" fear off the table straight away.

Give him a job, not a pose. "Chase the kids," "throw her in the air," "just wander over there and talk to her." A task feels natural. A pose feels like standing to attention.

Pick a session that isn't just standing and smiling. This is exactly why I keep my family sessions relaxed and candid rather than stiff and posed. Nobody's lining up in matching outfits looking at the camera. We're capturing the actual chaos and connection, which, funnily enough, is usually what he ends up being fine with once he's in it.

Let him know it's not really about the photos. It's about the hour where the whole family actually stops and is together, phones down, no sport, no school run. Most dads come around to that part once they hear it framed that way.

What happens on the day

Once he's actually there, my job is to make it easy on everyone, him included. I direct the whole thing so nobody's standing around wondering what to do. We move at a comfortable pace, there's room for a break if someone (small or tall) needs one and honestly, by the end, most dads are a lot more relaxed than they expected to be.

The bit that's easy to forget

It's been years for a lot of families since they had everyone in one photo together. If your husband's reluctance is the thing that's been holding it up, that's a really common, really fixable problem. It doesn't need a big conversation or a grand gesture, just a booking with someone who'll make it easy on him too.

If this is where you're at, I'd love to help you get everyone in the one frame again.

Click the button below and lets get this started!

Stace x

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How to get dads on board for photos

How to Get Your Reluctant Husband On Board for Family Photos in Melbourne (Yes, Really)

Why does he hate this so much?

What actually helps

What happens on the day

The bit that's easy to forget

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