Mother lifting her laughing son into the air on the bed.

Vancouver Family Photographer | How to Feel More Confident in Your Family Photos | Meliza Orellana Photography

How to Feel More Confident in Your Family Photos (Even If You Usually Avoid the Camera). If you’ve ever looked at a family photo and immediately zoomed in on yourself (your hair, your expression, the outfit you weren’t sure about) you’re not alone. In fact, almost every mom I photograph tells me some version of:

“I’m usually the one taking the photos.”

“I’m never sure what to do with my hands.”

“I love the photos of my kids, but I don’t always love photos of me.”

This post is here to help shift that for good! You don’t need to change your body, your home, your wardrobe, or your comfort level with being photographed. You just need a different way of seeing yourself in photos. Let’s talk about it.


Why Confidence in Photos Isn’t About How You Look

Vintage family photos displayed on a desk

We’ve been taught that photos are about perfection. Perfect smiles, perfect hair, perfect angles, perfect lighting. But family photos the ones you love years later aren’t actually about perfection at all. They’re about:

  • the way your child snuggles into you
  • the softness in your expression when you look at them
  • the way your family fits together (literally and emotionally)
  • the season you’re living, right now

Those are the pieces your kids will look back at. Those are the pieces that make a photo meaningful. Not the things moms tend to critique. Here’s an example of some photos I love. My mom’s eyes are closed, one of them is a little blurry, but we’re together. And I love them. Here’s a bit more about who I am and how I work.

Focus on Connection with Your Family

Real confidence shows up when you’re engaged with your kids

The best photos happen when you’re not performing. They happen when you’re:

  • laughing at something only the two of you noticed
  • hugging your child
  • whispering something to your child
  • helping them climb onto your lap
  • tucking their hair behind their ear
Mom and daughter snuggling on bed in light and airy in-home session showing outfit ideas for a light and natural aesthetic

When you shift your attention away from the camera and into the moment, something changes. Your expression softens, your body relaxes and your presence fills the frame. That’s what confidence looks like, even if you don’t feel it at first. You can see my full approach to family photography on this page.

Kids Don’t See What You See

They see how it felt to be loved, not how you looked

Mother and son snuggling on the bed in a quiet moment during an in-home photo shoot.

Kids don’t see:

  • “she wished she posed differently”
  • “my mom didn’t like her outfit that day”
  • “she didn’t love her hair”

Kids do see:

  • “that was our living room”
  • “that’s how she held me”
  • “that’s what it felt like to be home”

You being in the photo matters more to them than how you think you look in it.

A Gentle Reframe for Feeling More Confident


You’re Not the Subject, Your Relationship Is

Family of four outfit inspiration for light and airy in-home family photos in Vancouver

Here’s a small shift that makes a big difference: YOU are not the subject of the photo.Your relationship is. Family photos aren’t portraits of you.They’re portraits of:

  • your connection
  • your bond
  • your presence
  • your story

Your kids want photos of you because you are part of their story. You can see my full approach to family photography on this page

Simple Ways to Feel Comfortable in Photos (That Actually Work)

These aren’t posing tips, they’re grounding tools.

1. Keep moving

Movement always looks and feels more natural than holding still. Sway, walk, snuggle, rock, shift. Let yourself move through the moment. View my portfolio to see what storytelling sessions look like

2. Look at your people, not the camera

You will never dislike a photo where you’re looking at your child the way only you do. Trust your photographer (me!) to capture you in a flattering way.

3. Choose comfort over trends

Wear what feels like you, not what Pinterest tells you to wear. Comfort photographs better than anything else. You can download my What to Wear Guide here.

4. Pick a session style that supports confidence

In-home documentary-style sessions make confidence easier:

  1. You’re in your own space.
  2. Your kids are comfortable.
  3. Your’re not performing.
  4. The photos feel real.

See examples of relaxed, natural in-home family photos here.

You Deserve to Be in the Photos, Too


The Most Meaningful Images Come From Everyday Moments

You don’t need a perfect home, perfect outfit, or perfect confidence to end up with photos you love. You just need to show up with your people, in the season you’re living, in the place where your real life happens.

Those are the photos that will matter most later. If you ever look at photos of yourself and feel unsure, this post on how to love your family photos might help.


Curious About In-Home Storytelling Sessions?

Young boy jumping on bed in in-home lifestyle family photo session showcasing outfit inspiration for boys

Kids don’t remember the décor or whether the house looked staged, they remember what it felt like to grow up in your home. That’s why these sessions mean so much to me.

If you’d like to see how an in-home session unfolds, you can read more about my family photography sessions here.

A Real Look Inside an In-Home Family Session

Want family photos that feel natural, relaxed, and meaningful? Get in touch here and let’s create something that feels like your real life.

Kids don’t remember the décor or the Pinterest-perfect spaces, they remember what it felt like to grow up in your home. That’s why in-home family photography means so much to me. If you’re curious how these sessions work, you can read more about my family photography sessions here.

Before we get into the gallery, I want to share a little context.

This family is well known in the Vancouver community, but inside their home they’re just who they truly are: playful, affectionate, and wrapped up in the beautiful chaos of raising little ones. What you’ll see below is exactly why I believe your home is enough. It holds the real story.

And if you want to feel more confident stepping into photos yourself, this post on how to love your family photos might help.

Ready to Step Into Photos With Confidence?

You’re Invited to Your Next Season of Memory-Making


Whether you’re curious about a session or ready to book, I’d love to make photos that feel like your real life. Ready to step into photos you actually love? Contact me here.

Here’s a look inside a real morning at home…

Brother and sister laughing while sitting on the stairs with their mother during an in-home session.
Family of four cuddling and playing together on their staircase.
Young boy jumping and laughing on his parents’ bed during an in-home family session.
Parents sitting on the bed laughing with their two young children.
Children giggling while lying close together on the bed with their parents’ arms around them.
Mother lying on the bed holding her child close in a quiet, tender moment.
Mother lying on the bed holding her child close in a quiet, tender moment.
Mother lifting her laughing son into the air on the bed during Vancouver in-home family photos
Mother and child curled up together on the bed, holding hands during a cozy moment.
Close-up of a child’s small hand resting gently on their parent’s hand.
Family of four standing by a bright window, parents holding their children.
Children sitting on the stairs while their mother makes a silly face to make them laugh.
Family laughing together on the staircase during an in-home photo session.
Father and children opening a jar together at the kitchen counter.
Family sitting together at the kitchen island enjoying a baking activity
Parents helping their children mix ingredients in a bowl at the counter.
Close-up of a young boy stirring ingredients during a baking moment.
Family gathered around the kitchen island preparing food together.
Parents helping their children bake at the kitchen counter.
Parents helping their children bake at the kitchen counter.
Parents leaning over the kitchen counter guiding their children as they bake.
Smiling young boy holding a treat in the kitchen.

A meaningful experience you’ll cherish long after the moment is gone.

A relaxed, guided experience: I gently lead you through the session so you never feel awkward or unsure. You get to simply be with your family while I take care of the rest.

Beautifully hand-edited images. Each photo is edited with care. Light, airy, natural so your gallery feels timeless and true to you.

Memories that feel like home. Warm, emotional images that hold onto the tiny moments you never want to forget.

Family, maternity, and lifestyle newborn sessions begin at $595.

Full pricing and package details are available when you inquire. I’m always here to help you choose the option that best fits your family.

Because these photos aren’t just for today. they’re for your kids, your future grandkids, and the people who love you most.

View the Experience & Pricing

Hi, I'm Meliza Orellana

a Vancouver family photographer specializing in relaxed, storytelling sessions that celebrate real connection. I help families create meaningful portraits that feel calm, natural, and true to who they are. Based in Maple Ridge and serving Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and beyond.

Discover more about my approach → View session options & what to expect

view my portfolio