10 Tips for a Successful Photoshoot with your Children

As a parent, capturing beautiful imagery of your children is a must! Freezing every chapter of their blooming lives is not only going to be so incredible, special, and warming to the heart to look back on in the future, but it sparks something inside of the people in the photograph who get to have these memories but also all who it is shared with because happiness is contagious.

Maybe the thought of getting everybody put together and out of the house, spending hundreds of dollars on a photoshoot only to feel like things didn't go well and not have "picture perfect" imagery makes the voice inside of you scream. Maybe you think there is no possible way you can manage everybody's personalities in front of a camera. Maybe you had a terrible experience in the past with someone who didn't see the love and the beauty in the messy and imperfect chaos that we call family. But what if I told you the second you stop worrying about every little "that didn't go according to plan," is the moment you transition from the mindset of "I have to make my family look perfect," to "my family is perfect just the way it is."

As a lifestyle family photographer of over a decade, I can promise you - I have probably seen and heard it all. From dad's complaining about having to even be part of the shoot, to full-blown toddler meltdowns, and even huge disasters before the session leading to reschedules. While I can't guarantee all these tips will work for your family, these have proven to be successful which means you get those beautiful real moments captured along with imagery of everyone smiling at the camera.

1. Feed everybody before leaving the house.

   HANGRY is a very real and valid emotion. This might sound silly or like a no-brainer but you may be surprised at how many people come to a photoshoot hungry with the plan of going out to dinner after. I'm not necessarily saying everyone needs a full meal but something that will give energy to hold everyone over the drive to the session, the session, and the drive to dinner. Stopping for food on the way to the photoshoot leaves room for accidents and stains, so eating before leaving the house guarantees everyone arrives looking their cleanest. Children's metabolisms work in overtime compared to an adult, so feed them accordingly to what they prefer.

2. Brings snacks or a beverage to share to the photoshoot. Yes, everyone just ate but sometimes a snack as a bribe can really help the last 15-20 minutes of a session maintain the same level of cooperation. Some snacks are easier to prep and bring along then others AND if you plan on going to dinner right after then you don't want something large enough to spoil their appetite. If the household has a family snack everyone can't keep their hands off of, then that's the one to bring. Community snacks also creates a moment of bonding during the session because good food will always make a good mood. If you have something you plan on bringing, share with your photographer as they might find a creative way to incorporate/provide aesthetic plates/cups.

3. Toys, movement, + music. Having a favorite toy or filling in your photographer on your family's ideal music are always a great way to get the session started. Your photographer can hold their toys to keep the kid's attention while playing and singing along to your family's hype toons, all you have to do is keep moving and smile through it all! This is a great time to be playful with your children: dance, sing, sway, hug, tickle, run, pick up/swing and keep the children engaged. Not only are these moments so precious, they're typically the moments my clients love the most from their session.

4. Positive reinforcement ONLY. Distractions or changing things up can do a lot more for a mood than punishing children AT the photoshoot IN FRONT of a stranger will always kill the mood of the children. Do not threaten to take away what was promised for after the session, do not tell them they are disappointing you, do not tell them you don't want to be their either/can't wait to go home, do not yell at them, or call them embarrassments (yes, all of these things have actually happened). What I recommend is letting your photographer work with who is cooperating in the group, while mom or dad sits with the other child to take some deep breaths for emotional regulation to help get them back in the groove, remind them they are going to be rewarded for the cooperation, provide a distraction or create an activity with them of chase or smelling the flowers or touching cool rocks - your photographer will notice when the mood is back on track and help incorporate everyone back together (after taking a few captures of the two having a heart to heart moment).

5. Plan an activity for during the photoshoot. This kind of ties in to toys, movement, music, and snacks but having a pre-planned group activity that takes up 15-20 minutes is a wonderful way to help the children feel less pressured and lets them simply be. Often time this activity looks like: doodles in the sand, collecting rocks, shells or flowers to take home, bringing a bubble blower, small canvases and paint, tape to make simple floral bracelets or even enjoying a bottle of apple cider. Every family is different, chat with your photographer about activities your family enjoys in/around the home and they can help provide some ideas.

6. Get on their level or bring them up to yours. Kneel, sit, nose-to-nose, whispers into their ears, eskimo kisses, hair play, pick them up to stand on an object that makes them SUPER tall. Let them climb and get involved with them by getting close, your children will GLOW with happiness knowing that you're 100% present in their enjoyment. Safety is always a priority and you know your children, so at any time if you need to remove them from a situation be sure to have a distraction to get their mind off of something that could potentially not be safe.

7. Smile through it all and be patient. Please, please, please do not forget to smile! I can't tell you how many amazing images I have taken but the parent's face ruins the entire mood of the photo and I have to crop them out. I know it's sometimes easy to make unhappy faces when children are acting out of pocket, not doing what you asked and being a little crazy but those are the moments the kid is giving me their best smiles. As a photographer, I will never judge a kid or a parent for being human, your kids are going to want to show off and be the star, let them and be happy for them. Your photographer will find a way to get things back on track, trust them to document the silliness and let the children be children before making them keep preforming.

8. Bribery. Some toddlers are too young to understand the concept but for the older kiddos who do, promise them a sweet treat, toy, or stop at their favorite store. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a bribe. On the weeks leading up to a photoshoot, listen to anything they might be saying they want and keep a keen ear open for things that are cheap and can make a world of difference to them. Most kids are happy with an ice cream or Crumbl cookie, but I've seen bribes as: a trip to Gamestop, a day at the park with a good sandwich, a favorite restaurant that isn't within a 15 minute radius, and even some children who were happy to be bribed with being allowed to say "bad words," which ended up being words like "caca, and butt-crack". For right now, these photos are for you so getting the children involved might not be easy but one day these photos will be for them and their children so do the little things you have to so they know how grateful you are for them participating in the photoshoot.

9. Let them take some pictures. Children love to do the opposite of what is expected. Sometimes letting them spend 5 minutes to take some photos on their own of their favorite people can absolutely make them more excited to hop back in front of the camera. I have more than 2 handfuls of stories where I let children use MY camera to take some pictures of mom, dad, siblings, nature and they are so grateful to feel trusted that the whole session typically flows so well after.

10. Tell them "don't smile." This ties back in to children doing what is the opposite of what is expected or told. They will think it is hilarious you told them not to smile but every time they can't resist to smile. There are so many other lines that will create a laugh like pretend to be someone else in the group, tell me who farts the loudest in the family, or say the word "poop" as quiet as you can. The silliest, simplest things make children laugh and there really isn't anything better than heating it.