Larry Birkhead is always looking out for his daughter. 

The photographer got candid about how he makes sure that his and Anna Nicole Smith‘s 18-year-old daughter Dannielynn Birkhead only keeps people around who have her best interest at heart. 

“It’s hard,” Larry exclusively told E! News’ Francesca Amiker ahead of Father’s Day 2025. “When she was younger and had friends over, or went out, it was tough figuring out who was genuine.”

As a result, the 52-year-old is selective about who he and the teenager spend time with. 

“I’ve always tried to protect her,” he continued, “not just from media and paparazzi, but even people we let into our circle.”

And Larry admitted that occasionally his efforts haven’t been entirely successful. As he put it, “Some had great intentions, but others didn’t.”

“Some would say, ‘I want to hang out with you because I think I can get on Entertainment Tonight,’ or ‘Can you help my kid model? or ‘We need a vacation but can’t afford it,'” Larry recalled. “You hear all kinds of things.”