An outdoor family photography photoshoot has two faces – one people know well and the other not so much.

The expected: everyone posed, looking at the camera, smiling. composed. You see this shot everywhere when you search for a professional family photographer. It’s probably what’s on your mind as you read this article.

The unexpected: natural, imperfect, unrehearsed. Unscripted. They are photography’s version of an outtake. But they are the photographs families return to years later because they carry the strongest memories.

Producing the expected photos is what keeps my company in business. Capturing the unexpected photos is what gets us out of bed every day (and delivers big smiles from clients).

And more times than not, the opportunity is hiding in plain sight.

This article pulls back the curtain on what we believe a family photoshoot should produce for you and ideas on how you might find the right photographer.

Make unexpected photos a promise, not a suggestion

Unexpected photographs don’t happen by accident.

They happen when a photographer treats them as part of the job — not a bonus, not a lucky moment, and not something that only happens if everything goes right.

They should be a promise.

In many photoshoots, the camera slows down or stops once the posed photo is finished. The work is considered “done,” and anything that happens afterward is incidental.

Our approach is different.

The posed photo ends, but the camera doesn’t.

We’re actively watching for what happens after everyone relaxes — when kids stop trying to sit still, when dogs do what dogs do, when parents stop managing and start reacting. Those moments aren’t interruptions. They’re the point. This is the heart of how we approach our family + pet photography sessions.

If you value these kinds of images, they shouldn’t be something you hope for. They should be something your photographer is intentionally looking for.

What the unexpected actually looks like

For us, an unexpected photo is a critical piece in the journey of a family photoshoot.

It’s like choosing to leave the main road on a road trip — not because you know what you’ll find, but because you’re open to discovering something better. Sometimes you stumble onto a great hamburger joint you never would have seen if you’d stayed on the highway.

For photos, the unexpected looks like the shots below. It’s a child interrupting a perfectly good posed photo by twisting away with a big grin. Or a muscular pup doing the same with her unsuspecting momma.

These are all part of the journey. It’s a shame if they aren’t captured.

What to look for when choosing a family photographer

We would bet dinner at a really nice restaurant that most, if not all, family photographers would agree with the concept of the unexpected photos. But how many do it as part of what they provide?

Fewer than you might expect.

If this kind of photography resonates with you, here are a few practical things to consider when you’re evaluating photographers:

• Start with the basics. If their posed photos don’t grab you, it’s unlikely they’ll succeed when things get unplanned.
• Do you see movement in their galleries, or mostly stillness?
• Do children and pets look managed — or engaged?
• Are there moments that feel unscripted, even imperfect?
• Does the photographer talk enthusiastically about their craft?
• What gets them out of bed every day?

These aren’t right-or-wrong differences. They’re signals.

Some photographers are set up to deliver certainty above all else. Others are set up to notice what’s already happening and stay ready for it. Knowing which approach matters to you makes it easier to choose the right fit.

Like what you’re hearing? Then dig into our recent article on how we drive a photo session to get these amazing shots.

A final thought

Most people search for family photography based on what they’ve seen.

They don’t know what they don’t know.

A successful family photoshoot should include both faces, but they aren’t equal. To us:

• Expected photos are like clean floors in a grocery store… they are cost of entry to delivering a successful photo session.
• Unexpected photos are why the session is remembered.

Many clients tell us the photographs that matter most over time are often the ones no one thought to ask for.

Choose a photographer who sees things the way you want to remember them.

If this is the kind of photography you’re looking for, take a look at how our outdoor family and pet sessions actually work.

Todd Gurley is the photographer behind Outdoor Pet Photography, where he focuses on capturing animals and their human families outdoors.