Photo Sessions With Kids: Expectations & Tips
Holiday pictures. The good, the bad, the cranky. You really never know what you’re going to get with these types of mini sessions. And with the holidays right around the corner, we thought it might be helpful to share a few things we’ve learned with parents about some tips to help make your mini session go as smoothly as possible.
Something that all parents should know when walking into your session:
your kid is the one actually in charge of your session.
Crazy right? You’d think that they would know and be aware that you’re paying good money for cute pictures of them—so why aren’t they acting like it?! Well, here’s the thing…they are kids! They are moody, shy, hangry, hyper, so of course they aren’t going to cooperate the best. You just have to roll with it and work with your photographer to help your child feel as comfortable as possible.
Here’s another thing you should know about your child: stranger anxiety. It is VERY real, and almost every child experiences some form of it. When your child is acting shy around someone new and you say “Sorry, he’s not normally like this. He’s usually very happy and smiley!” And that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
You know how, even as an adult, you can sometimes stress out or feel anxious when meeting new people? Kids are the exact same way when they come face-to-face with a new person. And then you sit them down in front of this stranger, most likely in a new place and a big ol’ camera is all up in their face? Of course they are gonna be extra shy or upset! The best way to overcome that stranger anxiety is to show your kiddo that this new person (photographer) is your friend. A few ways to help you do this:
Start the session off by taking just pictures of you, the parents.
This will show the kids what’s going on and that you trust this new person, and they can too! Plus you get a few of just the two of you ;)
Once you’ve shown the them that they can trust the photographer, invite them to join you.
Chances are they will be happy and excited to be a part of something that you’re doing. Then you have some fun: tickle monster, bear hug, shower them in kisses, maybe twirl them around. Just be super playful! The goofier you are will not only get your kid to open up more and be more smiley, but it will make for some super cute pictures.
Then get the little ones photographed.
Now that you’ve warmed them up and helped them to feel more comfortable in front of the camera, we can try getting those solo shots of just your kid(s). From there, we can do the normal tricks to helping get your kiddo to look at the camera.
The subtle art of bribery.
And if your child is still not quite cooperating as much as you had hoped, we can always use bribery. I am NOT above bribery. I usually have some cookies on stand by as a reward for the kids. The best brides that work fairly well are snacks and toys. So do playing videos or songs on your phone. But be warned: as soon as you pull out your phone, chances are your child will freak out when you try to put it away. So try to use the phone as a last resort!
Embrace this time in your child’s life.
Now I’m not saying parents should lower their expectations for their holiday pictures, but instead to be more open to taking those crazy/cranky pictures of your kids. I’ve had a lot of parents express to me that they would love to see those blooper shots among the final images. Those type of pictures make for hilarious memories (and also maybe for future moments to embarrass your kids).
Just remember:they are kids, and kids will be kids. Try to be patient with them. And learn to let go, and go with the flow—have fun with them and enjoy the moment!
