Is this something we need to explain in advance?

Only if helpful, tics are already understood and will not cause a reaction mid session.

Tourette’s, Tics, and Family Photos: What Actually Helps

Neurodivergent Family Children Resources

A tic showing up mid session is not a problem to edit around apologetically, it’s just part of the moment. One of the most common worries I hear from parents is what if the tics show up right when the camera clicks, so let’s talk about that honestly instead of pretending it won’t happen, because it probably will, and that’s completely fine.

By the Numbers

About 1 in 50 children ages 5 to 14 has Tourette syndrome or a persistent tic disorder, according to the CDC, and it’s likely underdiagnosed.

How Common Tourette’s and Tic Disorders Actually Are

According to the CDC, about 1 in 50 children ages 5 to 14 has Tourette syndrome or a persistent tic disorder, and Tourette’s itself is likely underdiagnosed, with research suggesting close to half of children who meet criteria have never received a formal diagnosis. Boys are affected roughly three to four times more often than girls. This is a far more common experience than most families realize, and it rarely travels alone, more than five in six kids with Tourette’s have at least one other co-occurring condition, most often ADHD or anxiety.

What Tics Can Look Like on Photo Day

Motor tics like blinking, facial movement, or shoulder movement, vocal tics, an increase in tic frequency under stress or excitement, which photo day can absolutely be, or the fatigue that shows up later if a child tries to suppress a tic to get through the session. None of it needs to be hidden or apologized for.

Why tics can get worse before they get better on session day: tics are well documented to fluctuate with emotional state, and excitement counts just as much as stress. A day your child has been looking forward to can genuinely increase tic frequency, which catches some parents off guard. That increase is not a sign the day is going badly, it’s a sign your child is having a big emotional experience, which photo day usually is.

How We Approach These Sessions

We don’t wait for a tic free moment that may never come. I shoot continuously to catch real expressions in and around tics rather than asking a child to hold still or suppress anything, and I don’t flinch or react to a tic mid session. If your child wants to talk about it beforehand, the Visual Story guide is a good place to start that conversation, and pacing details live on the pricing page.

8 Tips for Tourette’s and Tic Friendly Family Photos

Don’t ask them to suppress tics for the photo. Suppression is exhausting and often shows up later as a bigger release.

Expect and welcome movement. Shooting continuously catches the real moment between tics without anyone waiting on cue.

Talk about it openly beforehand if your child is comfortable. Naming it removes the pressure of hiding it.

Avoid stacking stress on photo day. Tics often increase with excitement or anxiety, so a calm pace matters more than usual.

Let a tic be part of a genuine laugh or moment. It’s part of them, not a flaw in the photo.

Plan for a co-occurring condition to show up too. Since ADHD and anxiety are common alongside Tourette’s, the session plan often needs to account for more than tics alone.

Skip the “are you okay” check-ins after every tic. Constant checking can draw more attention to it than the child wants, follow their lead on whether it needs acknowledgment.

Build in a break option, no explanation required. A simple signal for “I need a minute” respects their autonomy without singling anything out.

I’d rather work with what’s real in the moment than wait for a pause that never comes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will you wait for my child’s tics to stop before taking the photo?

No, I shoot continuously through the moment instead of waiting for a pause, which usually captures something far more real than a held pose ever could.

How common is Tourette syndrome?

According to the CDC, about 1 in 50 children ages 5 to 14 has Tourette syndrome or a persistent tic disorder, and it’s likely underdiagnosed.

Should my child try to suppress their tics during the session?

I’d rather they not. Suppression takes energy and often leads to a bigger release later, I’d rather work with what’s real in the moment.

Can tics increase during a photo session?

Yes, especially with excitement, not just stress, so an increase on photo day doesn’t mean the day is going badly.

Does Tourette’s usually come with other conditions?

Often, yes. More than five in six kids with Tourette’s have at least one co-occurring condition, most commonly ADHD or anxiety, so sessions are planned with that in mind.

Is this something we need to explain to you in advance?

Only if it’s helpful for you, I already understand and I’m not going to react to a tic mid session, it’s just part of the day.

How do we prepare our child for the session?

The Visual Story guide walks through what to expect so nothing on the day feels like a surprise, which tends to help with tic frequency too.

More questions? Visit the full FAQ page.

Helpful Resources: For more on Tourette’s and tic disorders, the CDC and the Tourette Association of America are both trustworthy starting points.

If Tourette’s or tics are part of your family’s story, I already get it.

Let’s Talk About Your Family’s Session

Written by Kathie, owner of Unique Footprints Co and mom to a neurodivergent son, sixteen years of lived experience behind every session. This post shares real world experience alongside publicly available research and is not medical advice.