How can I get them to sit still for a picture?
Have you been wondering this every time you think about hiring a photographer for your family photos? A lot of my clients are families with young children. That's why I've put together my top tips for getting great photos with young kids, so that you can have beautiful family photos to hang on your walls.
1. Let them run:
As your photographer, I love just capturing young kids doing their own thing. For the first 15 minutes or so I can get some great pictures of them just going their own way and finding whatever interests them. This also gives them some time to get used to the person behind the camera following them around. Once they get more comfortable they are a lot more willing to say "cheese!"
2. Provide a reward:
Many times I see parents reminding their child that if the smile and sit for the photos that they will get a treat when we are done! Ice cream does wonders. Also bringing their favorite snack along to bribe that smile never hurts! :)
3. Make them laugh:
Does your child like to be held upside down or thrown in the air? Sometimes to cheer them up it can be helpful to interact with them in a fun and exciting way! Spin them, tickle them, let them jump into your arms, get those smiles to come out!
4. Say "Cheese" or don't:
As your photographer, I will interact with your kids and say funny things to make them look at me and smile. I find that prompt based poses work a lot better then just staring at the camera. I like to use prompts like "Can you give mommy a kiss" or "what if you tickle daddy?" In the middle of the fun and goofy poses they will be much more willing to look at the camera and smile.
5. Be quick:
As your family photographer I am very quick in the moment. I know a child's smile can last just a second. That's why I move around with them and take a ton of photos of each moment. That way I can get that one second when they did smile at the camera. Trust your photographer, even if it seems like everything went wrong and little Joey was crying almost the entire time, you can bet they got you some amazing photos you will treasure forever!
