I have been photographing these kids for years now, and their awesome parents have learned (and taught me) that kids sessions often work best when parents wander off and do their own thing. Kids tend to relax more without their parents watching--go figure!
This sweet little girl did not want her photo taken, but once I started walking through the woods with just her and her brother, we got wonderful, authentic pictures! Those are the pictures that I love from my kids sessions (the ones where kids are not being told to say "cheese"). I try hard to make kids really laugh--but I also think that the pictures of them with other expressions show their personalities as well.