So you want professional photos of your kids BUT….
There’s a zero percent chance that your kid or kids are going to sit down, listen to everything, and smile like complete angels throughout an entire photo session and this stresses you the heck out. Being stressed out about getting photos of your kids is natural. Even photographers who have been taking photos for years and years struggle to get those perfectly posed images of their own children. Why? Because they are children.
Kids are meant to play!
Kids aren’t meant to sit perfectly and smile big for photos. Kids are meant to jump in the mud, run as fast as they can, and play to their heart’s content. I want you to know, your photographer (if they are a good photographer) expects this of your kids. In fact, your photographer probably wants this. Shocker? Well, listen up.
No photographer or parent wants the dreaded yearbook smile.
You know the one. Eyes closed. Jaw clenched. Looks like they are straight-up trying to take a poop. Yeah, that smile isn’t cute and it also isn’t natural. These are the types of smiles that come from a session when a photographer sits your kid in front of a JCPenny-style backdrop and tells them to “smile and say cheese.” That type of session may have really flown in 1990 but that was yesterday and today, parents should know that their kids don’t really smile like that. You see your kids play and smile every day and I can almost guarantee that nothing natural has ever caused that smile and good photo sessions aren’t going to cause it either. Natural photography is in style and it’s here to stay.
How to achieve REAL smiles & get authentic photos of your kids:
Trust me when I say this is all possible. Even if you have a wild child who hates photos, you CAN get good photos of your children. Here are some tips to book a session and to prepare for a successful session with your strong-willed kids.
Enough talk, here are the tips!
1) Look for a candid or lifestyle photographer.
A photographer who posts superposed images of children all the time might not be the right photographer for you if you have a strong-willed child who hates cameras. This just means that you are okay with getting authentic photos of your children that may not all involve them looking directly at the camera. Again, remember, we DO NOT want the yearbook smile. Literally anything is better than that.
2) Talk to your photographer about your child beforehand.
Let your photographer know upfront that your kid doesn’t like cameras and will do better in a playful environment. A good photographer will run with this, accept the challenge, and find a good location suited to your child. This may mean coming to your home, going to a local park or playground, going to an adventurous location, or planning an activity for your child. A good photographer may ask you things about your child’s likes and dislikes such as “What kind of snacks do they like,” or “Would they be more comfortable if a parent were to hold them during the session?” These questions will help your photographer achieve the best results with your child by making them feel comfortable.
3) Make the session sound appealing to your child beforehand.
Instead of telling your child, “We are going to take pictures,” say something like, “We are going to go see Miss Jill at the playground to play and have lots of fun.”
4) Try your best not to punish your child during the session.
This may seem difficult in the moment if your child is misbehaving but I can also guarantee that yelling at your child or stopping to punish them mid-session will probably result in the rest of the session not going as well. We don’t want puffy, red eyes from crying. You’ll likely be even more aggravated if that happens. Save the punishment for afterward if it’s a must. Remember, kids are not meant to sit and smile perfectly.
4) Consider an after-photo treat or activity.
It’s your child, and I’ll never bribe them unless you ask me to, but I have seen it work well in the past. Telling your child that good behavior may result in a trip to the ice cream shop afterward never really hurt anyone. Also, treat yourself afterward! You deserve it just as much as your child does.
Feeling ready to take on a family session with your little ones?
Meet Jillian
Your Missouri wedding & family photographer
We don’t often realize the importance of images until we lose a loved one or see how fast our babies grow. While I love photography, it’s the people and their stories who really fill my cup and inspire my why. I want to help you preserve those memories for years to come.
Book your session with Jillian!
