Surviving and (even enjoying) Your Family Photoshoot with Young Kids

Surviving Your Family Photoshoot with Little Kids

My Mom's rule of thumb was that kids have an attention span about as many minutes as they are old. While I'm not sure if there is any science behind that, it seems fairly accurate to me. That number can probably be cut in half when they are with their siblings. 
A photoshoot is often the perfect cocktail for 

disaster: mom is stressed (about picking everyone's outfits/coordinating them/keeping them clean, plus getting everyone's hair right), kids are bored from sitting still, irritable about uncomfortable positions and having to keep themselves tidy, then it's too warm or too cold or too windy out and the sun is in everyone's eyes and parents are trying to coach their kids into not having weird smiles. ​

Bribe them

For-go your parenting ideals and buy your child's favourite treat. 
I have seen excellent success with smarties and goldfish crackers. But, choose whatever your child likes best. (It's one hour of their lives and won't spoil them.)
"If you smile nicely for this picture you can have a  treat."
​Nothing works like it!

Pack Water

It can feel like quite a long stint of smiling. Water helps keep everyone feeling refreshed. It also helps prevent what I call 'sticky lips' when a person's upper lip stick to their teeth, causing a very stiff artificial smile. 

Let Them Play and Run

Kids look most like themselves when they're being themselves. Personally, I love action shots. The children's faces look more natural, and they're fun. I remember one photoshoot with a busy 3-year-old boy who just had ants in his pants. We just let the toddler do his thing, within eye shot and took lovely photos of mom and dad, eventually he started to feel left out and wanted to be in the photos too. But, the key was, it was on his terms. 
​Play with your kids, spin them around, play hide and seek, throw leaves. You can get nice poses in between but those will be the ones in the album that will make you smile most. 

Draw their attention

I like to bring a squeaky toy or a bell to get everyone looking. A familiar squeaky toy from home never hurts. 

Prepare the Night Before

Prepare for disaster. Instead of dreading the what might happen, come up with a back up plan so that you don't have to worry—f it means packing a backup shirt for everyone, a tide-to-go-pen, a damp cloth, a sewing kit, a comb and a spritz bottle—do what you need to do to feel calm. 
Stress will show on your face. More than likely everything will go fine and everyone will look okay. 

Relax and Enjoy the Shoot

If you're late, you're late. Don't let it add to your stress. As a rarely punctual person myself, I totally get it. It might miff some photographers, but truthfully that's their problem. You leave me in a nice spot with my camera, I'm cool. ​

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