The importance of play-based family photography
Play has always mattered to me. Long before I picked up a camera or began shaping what is now my play-based family photography approach, I trained and worked as a primary school teacher. I spent years alongside children, watching how they moved through their days, how they learned, how they connected and where they truly came alive.
Without fail, the highlight of a child’s school day was playtime.
The so-called break from learning.
Except it never felt like a break at all.
Free play was where the richest learning happened.
Children were learning how to be in the world.
Learning how to manage emotions.
How to communicate, compromise, negotiate, experiment, persuade, entertain, create and imagine.
Much of my teaching career was spent in Upper Key Stage 2 (the oldest children in our primary schools) and even then, play remained essential. It was never something extra or optional.
It was everything.
This understanding sits at the very heart of how I photograph families.
Why play matters so much in family photography
Children are not wired to sit still, perform on cue, or smile on demand and nor should they be.
When children are asked to “behave”, “stand here” or “say cheese”, what we often see is tension. Shoulders lift. Bodies stiffen. Expressions become guarded.
Just as noticeably, parents become anxious too. Managing, correcting, coaxing.
But when children are allowed to play?
Everything changes.
Bodies soften. Attention shifts away from the camera. Movement becomes natural, instinctive, joyful. Personalities come through, not the version children think they should be, but who they actually are.
From a photographic point of view, play creates:
genuine expression
natural movement and connection
regulation through rhythm and repetition
space for emotion: joy, focus, silliness, calm
From a human point of view, it creates ease.
Not just for children, but for everyone involved.
This is why relaxed, play-based family photography works so beautifully.
The role of parents: play with, not just observe
One of the most important (and often surprising) parts of a relaxed family photography session is parental involvement.
The most meaningful sessions aren’t the ones where parents stand back encouraging children to perform. They’re the ones where parents are in it.
Being silly.
Joining games.
Following their child’s lead.
Sometimes even leading the play themselves.
When parents play alongside their children, something powerful happens:
children feel safe and seen
parents relax into the moment
connection deepens naturally
You don’t need to entertain or perform.
Just be present.
The moments families treasure years later are rarely the polished ones. They’re the shared laughter, the quiet concentration, the arms wrapped around each other mid-play… moments that feel real because they were.
Learning from Natural Nurture Nursery: play in its purest form
This belief in play is one of the reasons I value my ongoing relationship with Natural Nurture Nursery, a setting my own child attended, and one I continue to work closely with.
Natural Nurture is rooted in outdoor play, exploration, trust and respect for children’s capabilities. Photographing there feels less like documenting and more like witnessing.
In a Play Experience Case Study written by Rose Tucker, Nursery Assistant at Natural Nurture Nursery, she articulates beautifully what play offers children when it is truly honoured:
“Being outside means children have the freedom to be as physically active as they need throughout the day… Children listen to their body’s cues to move more or to slow down, satisfying their movement needs in the moment, rather than holding on to energy until the timetable allows.”
This freedom – to move, pause, climb, retreat and try again – is exactly what allows children to feel regulated and confident. It’s also what allows authentic moments to unfold naturally in front of the camera.
Rose also speaks about trust, something I see mirrored so clearly in photography:
“Whilst these rules mean well, they communicate to children that their judgement is not trusted. At Natural Nurture, staff trust in the children’s ability to assess for themselves whether or not they feel safe and support children to problem solve as they push their limits.”
When we trust children (whether in a nursery setting or a family photography session) we give them space to show us who they are.
And when adults resist the urge to step in too quickly, something remarkable happens. As Rose explains:
“More often than not, the most valuable help we can give in these situations is our guidance… sharing with them your belief that they are capable.”
Belief is powerful. Children rise to it.
And cameras quietly capture the result.
Why play-based sessions create the photographs families treasure most
Play-based family photography isn’t about chaos or lack of structure. It’s about a gentle, responsive structure: observing, following, and guiding when needed.
It allows room for:
Concentration and perseverance
Problem-solving and negotiation
Physical confidence and emotional expression
As Rose writes:
“Moments of observation… concentration and resilience… problem solving… and perseverance… The child believes they have mastered just one skill, but they have learned so much more.”
Play-led photography tells a story not just of how your family looked, but of how it felt to be together at that point in time.
In the end… it’s all just play
One of my favourite lines from the Natural Nurture case study is this:
“It may be risky, but it is a risk worth taking, and of course to the children, it is all just play.”
This speaks to me.
Play is how children communicate.
It is how families connect.
How moments unfold naturally.
And when we allow space for play (in life and in photography) we’re rewarded with something honest, layered and lasting.
If you’re drawn to relaxed, play-led family photography where your children can be themselves and you’re invited to join in… you’re in exactly the right place.
A big thank you to Rose from @NaturalNurtureNursery for contributing to this blog. Please go give them a follow on Instagram or check out their website.
