From “I Don’t Want to Do This” to “When’s Our Session?” How to Win Over the Photo-Resistant Dad

Let’s talk about a very specific kind of dad.

He’s loving, hardworking, probably up to his eyeballs in meetings or yard work, and when you mention family photos? He gives you that look. The one that says, “Can we not?”

Sound familiar?

As a family and newborn photographer in the Boston area, I meet a lot of amazing dads—and honestly, a good number of them would rather do just about anything else than pose for the camera. Clean out the garage? Sure. Change a diaper? No problem. Smile on cue in matching outfits? Hard pass.

But here’s the thing. I actually don’t need him to smile on cue. And he doesn’t need to love photo day right away. He just needs to show up.

Because once he’s there, something shifts. Every time.

It starts when he realizes we’re not doing stiff poses or awkward instructions. I don’t expect anyone to suddenly become a model. I might ask him to pick up his daughter or nuzzle the baby for a second, but I’ll never say, “Look happy!” I’m looking for the real stuff. And when the pressure’s off, guess what? That same dad who was dragging his feet getting out the door ends up totally present, even laughing.

Sometimes he doesn’t even notice I’m still taking photos.

Here’s what I always want those reluctant dads to know: these pictures aren’t really for you right now. They’re for your kids someday. They’re for your partner who wants to remember this season. They’re for the future, when the tiny sneakers have been replaced by car keys, and the baby is off to college.

And if we can carve out one short hour a year to document who you are right now—dad jokes, tired eyes, superhero-level multitasking and all—that’s pretty powerful.

Honestly? Most of the dads I photograph surprise themselves. By the end, they say things like, “That wasn’t bad at all,” or, my personal favorite, “When are we doing this again?” (Said with a smirk, of course, but still.)

So if you’ve got a photo-resistant dad in your life, here’s the trick: don’t push. Just promise him it’ll be low-pressure, laid-back, and possibly involve snacks. Remind him it’s not about the camera. It’s about being in the frame—where he belongs.

And I’ll take care of the rest.

Laura Pineda is the owner of Alternate Angles Photography, serving families in Boston and beyond with natural, heartfelt portraits of real life. She specializes in newborns, babies, and making photo day as painless as possible—even for dad.
www.alternateanglesphoto.com