Parents, this is for you! I’ve been thinking about this blog post for a long time, but posting it during the winter months just didn’t seem right. Now that it’s getting warmer out and family sessions are coming soon, it’s perfect timing!
~*~
Photo sessions are supposed to be fun (at least that’s how I do it at SRP!). But how do you get your kiddos ready for yours? Especially younger kids, they might not understand what’s going on, or might not want to do it! I’ve put together a few (very simple) tips to help get them excited before hand and keep them interested during the session.
Get Them Excited
Tell your kids about your session as soon as you book it and get them excited! Tell them how fun it’s going to be! And that you’re going to pretty new place and get to explore it. Maybe take them shopping for a new special outfit just for this photo shoot. This will get them looking forward to the special day when they can wear it.
~*~
Practice Smiling
Practice at home or in the car saying “Cheese!” and smiling big. Have a contest with the whole family to see who can smile the biggest! All this practicing will help them remember what to do when the photo shoot day comes.
~*~
Feed them beforehand
This seems obvious haha. At any age, kids aren’t their sweetest selves if they’re hungry. Make sure they have a good snack or meal before the shoot to prevent this anti-sweetness. You’ll get more smiles + attentiveness for longer!
~*~
Pack a Survival Kit
What should be in it?
- Tissues or wipes. Kids get snotty.
- A change of clothes or two. Kids get dirty.
- Snacks! (If you didn’t or couldn’t do my last suggestion)
- A favorite toy for the little ones. Being in front of the camera can be scary, so having a favorite toy in sight can help them relax.
~*~
That’s about it for tips. Simple enough, right? Worried they’ll still be uninterested or scared? Some kids might need time to get used to the camera, and when that’s the case, I like to play and get to know them a bit before we start shooting. It usually helps calm the nerves or get them more excited.
Moms + Dads, remember this: The more fun YOU are having, the more fun the kids will have. They’ll feed off of your excitement. So if Dad is apprehensive about being in photos, little Joey will be, too. So bring your picture-taking A-Game and we’ll be all set!
Thanks for reading and hopefully this was helpful! =) If you want to book a family session, email me! hello[at]stephanieritaphoto.dot.com
~Stephanie