40 Activities to Include in Your Family Photoshoot

What Activities Should I Include in My Family Photoshoot?

The best activities to include in your family photoshoot are the ones that already exist in your real life. The rhythms you fall into in everyday life. The slow Saturday mornings, the warm summer afternoons, the small traditions that feel ordinary now but will feel so special later.

When I photograph a family, I am not looking for perfect poses with fake smiles looking at the camera. I am paying attention to how your daughter leans into you while you stir pancake batter. I notice how your son runs full speed through the backyard with wet grass clinging to his ankles.

If you are planning a Winston-Salem family session or working with a North Carolina family photographer, choosing an activity can feel overwhelming at first. There are so many options. The simplest way to begin is to think about what your family already loves doing together.

Here are some ideas, organized in a way that helps you picture them inside your own life.

At Home:

1. Breakfast at Home or in Bed

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1337074890310191/

2. Getting Ready Together

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155163149656942969/

3. Hang the Laundry

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/553098397990107814/

4. Feed the Chickens

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13299761394847798/

5. Tend to the Garden

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/27936460194012027/

6. Play in the Backyard with a Garden Hose

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16607092373130225/

7. Make Crafts

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6685099442535021/

8. Read Books

Photo: Kira Rideout Photography

9. Painting

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11047961581584406/

10. Swim & Eat Popsicles 

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171837844/

11. Bake Together

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/97320041943841763/

12. Play Board Games

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/174725660539416059/

13. Cooking Dinner

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16255248650642324/

14. Pillow Forts

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/56717276553368758/

15. Play Music

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171837638/

16. Backyard Movie Night

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136173420735/

17. Bath Time

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/679339925080606513/

In Nature

18. Play in the Creek

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6192518233301929/

19. Play by the Lake

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171838159/

20. Have a Boat Day

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171837613/

21. Go Fishing

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/310678074318071135/

22. Play with Paper Airplanes

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136172073393/

23. Play with a Kite

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171838384/

24. Go Camping

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/256001560065496269/

25. Go Stargazing

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443886107041015824/

Out & About

26. Get Ice Cream

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171838021/

27. Spend a Day at the Art Gallery

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171837729/

28. Visit your Local Arcade

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/72550243992549573/

29. Go to the Fair

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171838159/

30. Ride the Carousel

Photo https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136171838342/

31. Visit the Aquarium

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1149403136173421150/

32. Shop the Farmers Market

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10977592833685425/

33. Make Library Visit

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/32791903532918737/

34. Ride Bikes

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005658253145/

35. Go to the Park

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/788904059766575442/

Seasonal

36. Pick Berries

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/332422016254415901/

37. Pick Apples at the Orchard

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/985231164917798/

38. Decorate your Christmas Tree

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/325455510593854212/

39. Sledding

Photo: Kira Rideout Photography

40. Ice Skating

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/190840102955377246/

---

What are the benefits of including activities in my family session?

Including activities changes everything about how your session feels.

First, it takes the pressure off. When your hands are busy, you stop wondering what to do with them. Your kids stop being asked to stand still. Everyone relaxes.

Second, it creates genuine interaction. Instead of looking at the camera, you are looking at each other. That is where the real moments happen.

Third, it tells a fuller story. A photo of your family standing in a field is beautiful. A photo of your family baking together, laughing as flour dusts the counter, holds context. It shows how you live.

As a North Carolina family photographer, I have seen over and over again that sessions built around activities feel more like memories and less like appointments.

---

How do I decide which activities are right for me?

Start by asking yourself a simple question. What does a good day with your family already look like?

If your mornings are slow and quiet, an in-home breakfast session might feel perfect.

If your kids love being outside, choose something that lets them move. A creek, a park, or your own backyard might be all you need.

If you want something a little different, think about a place your family already loves. Your favorite ice cream shop. A park you visit every weekend. A trail you walk often.

You do not need to fill your session with ten different ideas. One or two is usually enough.

I always encourage families to choose something that feels easy. Something that does not require you to become a different version of yourself for the camera.

If you are still unsure, I walk through this with every family I photograph. We build something together that fits your season of life.

If you are looking for more ideas or want to see how different sessions come together, you can explore past stories here:

• https://kirarideout.com/lifestyle-maternity-session-in-winston-salem-north-carolina-denison-family/
• https://kirarideout.com/the-deaton-family-a-sunset-farm-photo-session-in-winston-salem-north-carolina/
• https://kirarideout.com/montana-ranch-family-lifestyle-session-the-keimigs-at-home/
• https://kirarideout.com/mom-and-me-family-session-in-stevensville-montana/

---

What does a family session with activities actually feel like?

It feels slower than you expect.

There are moments of movement and noise, and then there are quiet pauses in between. A child leaning into you. A hand reaching for yours. The way the light shifts across the room as the morning moves forward.

I am there to guide gently when needed, but mostly I am watching. Anticipating. Waiting for the moments that already exist to unfold.

That is what makes these sessions feel like something you can step back into later. They hold more than how you looked. They hold how it felt to be together.