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Taking photos with young children can be a huge challenge! However, it’s possible to do it! Continue your reading to discover five tips to nail your family photos and have wonderful memories with your children.
Do some mental preparation
Doing mental preparation is essential, especially with children aged between two and four years old. Talking positively about the photo session a couple of weeks in advance, explaining what you will do in front of the camera and crossing the days on the calendar are all good ways to demonstrate how exciting it will be. You can even practise your best poses together! Of course, it might not stop some little ones from being shy, but at least they won’t be scared of the camera or the photographer.
Be refreshed and raring to go
In order to put all odds in our favour, we want your child to be in their best mood. Don’t plan anything demanding before our appointment. It’s not a good moment to go hiking, spend the whole day in the swimming pool or go to a birthday party. Plan something relaxing at home, save time for a long nap and have a good meal before our appointment. With a clear head and full stomach, the experience should be enjoyable for your little one!
Don’t have expectations
Let’s be honest, though. Photo sessions with young children rarely go as planned. Yet, this does not mean they are completely ruined! Your kid wants to run everywhere? Ask them to run towards you. This way, you can take them in your arms and it will allow us to snap a few portraits of you together. They prefer to hide behind the tree instead? That’s fine, you can all play hide-and-seek together to create candid family memories. Let’s hope for the best, prepare for the worst and be ready for the unexpected!
Bring something to keep them interested
It’s no secret, children aged five and under rarely have a big attention span. Being photographed during a whole hour can quickly become redundant for them. Bringing something to stimulate them and to keep them interested is a very good idea. For instance, a musical toy is excellent for babies, while a standing bike works well with older children. You can even let them choose what they prefer so they feel more invested in the process! Similarly, don’t forget to bring snacks and water for all participants. Food is an excellent way to keep everyone happy and cooperative.
Don’t be afraid to look silly
Despite everything, some children can stay very unmoved during a session. It’s the perfect moment to use our secret techniques: a surprise tickle fight, a singing competition, a best funny faces contest, etc.
If all of this fails, I will bring out the big guns: fart jokes! Yes, I know, it’s silly to say « Eww, can you guys smell that? Did you just fart (name of the child)?! », but it works! Fart jokes are effective almost every single time, especially when combined with a fart noise app. They allow us to have wonderful natural photos with a GENUINE smile. Plus, they quickly put everyone in a good mood.
If for some reason you aren’t comfortable with this technique, please let me know before our appointment. You can suggest funny words or sentences that make your children laugh and I will be happy to use them instead.
Last update: February 2024
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