I’ve shot soooo many families over the past couple years, and as we hit peak family photo season… I thought why not write a blog about it!
As somebody who both captures family photos, and recently had my own family photos done… I’ve accumulated some tips and tricks I thought were worth sharing.
I’m no child expert by any means… but I do have two little boys ( age 2 and 4) who don't love their photo being taken ( instagram is a lie people), and have shot enough wild children to know what works and what doesn’t!
Here are my top tips.. take them or leave them :
1.) PREPERATION.
Like going to the doctor, the dentist, a haircut, whatever it may be… kids seem to thrive when they know what to expect. Start talking to them about it at least a few days in advance. Let them know that they are doing family photos, because it is sooo special to mommy and daddy, and that the photographer is sooo much fun. Let them know we might sit, we might stand, we might make funny faces, we might have a tickle war… sell them on the fun stuff!
2.) PRACTICE
As an adult it might seem silly to “practice” for photos… but I guarantee you still flash your best smile in the mirror before you leave the house!
Play a game of Simon says, and practice BIG smiles, little smiles, funny smiles, laughing smiles… make it fun!
Tell them how great their smile is! “ Wow, what a beautiful smile!! Nicole ( or whoever the photog is) is going to LOVE that smile!!”
4.) OUTFITS
This is one of the few things you can control. The experience might be chaos, but at least look your best doing it! Neutrals are a photographers best friend. Stick to a neutral colour palet, with maybe one pattern, or one pop of colour. When in doubt ask your photographers opinion, send them outfit pics, and lay everything out together to visualize.
3.) BRIBERY
I told you I’m not a child expert !! But I am a mom… and we know that when all else fails, some form of bribery usually does the trick. Makes plans for after the shoot, like maybe ice cream! “I can’t wait to do our photo shoot, and all of our great smiles, and then ice cream afterwords!”
Some kids dont need this… some kids LOVE the photo experience and that is the reward in itself, but speaking on behalf of my 2 and 4 year old boys… I have to sell them on it.
As a mom, I bring candy to the shoot. In a perfect world my kids wouldn’t know about it, and I would only pull it out as a last case scenario… but sometimes a certain 4 year old KNOWS you brought it, and insists on it after each pose/promt… such is life!
4.) HAVE FUN!!
I get it… photos often aren’t fun. It’s stressful, its expensive, and working with kids is like working with wild animals…
But when all else fails.. have fun. A good photographer will roll with it, and capture the in-between moments… that’s often where the magic truly is!
As much as we all want that “everyone smiling” at the camera photo.. its the beautiful moments around that shot that usually mean the most. The snuggles with dad, the running around, the picking “flowers” for mom, the parents laughing at the chaos that is their life… its REAL!!
So book the shoot… do the prep…buy the candy… and get some gorgeous photos of your beautiful family. Whether its perfect smiles or not, its YOUR beautiful chaos, and you will want to remember these moments in time!
xoxo
Nicole Mathieu
Comments