Photographing children poses a unique challenge but it can be a lot of fun. You need to know how to capture their attention and make it seem like a game. Below you will find our best tips and tricks to photographing small children. The portraits of your children when they are young are the ones you will cherish forever.
Don't ask them to "smile" or "be good" -
You don't want your child to be so focused on smiling that the smile becomes fake. Children are frequently told to "smile" or "say cheese" which then becomes all they think about when it is time to be photographed. It's also important not to tell them to "be good". It's best to discuss the sitting as an exciting event and talk about it positively without making it TOO big of a deal. Our photographer is fantastic at keeping their attention and making the sitting fun and enjoyable. As long as you make sure they get a good night's sleep we will take care of the rest!
The time of the sitting makes a big difference -
The best time to photograph young children is first thing in the morning. They are freshest at that time of day and are more likely to cooperate and engage with our photographer. We want to photograph them before they have had a full day of activities. We want to be able to keep their attention as long as possible. Even after an afternoon nap, we still find a child is not as receptive to the games we play during the sitting. Also, your sitting can be a really fun way to start the day!
Change their clothing at the studio -
For children under the age of 5 we recommend changing their clothes once they arrive at our studio. This will help avoid any wrinkles, stains or spills that might happen on the ride over. It also gives them time to become comfortable at the studio before we start photographing.
Our secret weapons...
Our studio fish tank can make even the shiest child feel more comfortable. While we love having it for its beauty, it also breaks the ice with young children. Colin, our photographer, will let them feed the fish so they can get more acquainted with him before the sitting. It works every time!
Our other secret weapon is our design consultation. Prior to a sitting we meet to discuss your children. We learn about their individual personalities. What makes them tick. Knowing this beforehand allows us to tend to each child's specific needs. This makes the experience easy and enjoyable for everyone!
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