You’ve been looking at a session and day dreaming about getting some family photos done but you haven’t taken the plunge yet because you’re a bit worried about getting your kids to cooperate during your session, this post is for you!
If, like me, you are a mother of young kiddos, I have some epic tips to help you get into and through your session like a boss! Read on to find out how I wrangle my kids for upcoming family photos!
1- Talk about it!
My oldest child is very organised and orderly. He likes routine and likes to be prepared and he’s only 4 years old! He likes CLEAR guidelines which can help him develop his expectations of an event. With this in mind, whenever we do a significant new activity or go to a new place, we always prepare him first. I’m not talking about popping in the local corner store that we’ve never been to before or trying out a new fish and chip shop for our Friday night dinner. I’m talking about when we go on a plane to Australia to visit our family, or when we get our family photos done, or when mummy and daddy go away for the night and he stays with his Nana. We talk about those things, and we let him ask all the questions (repeatedly) until he feels comfortable and confident with the experience and has expectations about what’s going to happen and when. Like I said, he is a child of order and routine. This helps him prepare emotionally and mentally, and I think perhaps it could help your child too! If you have a child who likes to have a bit of fun and muck around, you could also take this opportunity to calmly explain your expectations of behavior and even offer a reward or treat for afterwards. Don’t just talk about it once though, begin a week or 2 before the session and talk about it daily. You know what they say! Practice makes perfect!
2- Treats!
If you have a young child (or even some of the older ones) you can absolutely try offering a treat or reward. My advice with this is to make it highly desirable. For example, if your child regularly has McDonalds and you offer it as a treat for behaving during the photo session, it won’t have the same value as something the child gets less regularly like a new game, a trip to thew movies, new shoes, a new toy or going to the zoo. Think about what your child TRULY and STRONGLY desires and what will motivate them. Maybe even buy it and bring it along to the session. Explain clearly that they will receive the new item AFTER the session is completed (and make sure you stick to it!)
A quick note about treats. If you plan on bringing something for them to eat during the session as incentive and bribery (HAHAHA) I strongly suggest marshmallows as they are virtually colorless and wont stain clothing like chocolate, lollipops or MnM’s will.
MARSHMALLOWS FOR THE WIN!
They are also generally easier to edit out of you photos if you child insists on holding one during the photos.
Also, if your child is prone to sugar-highs, perhaps don’t begin giving treats until at leas the session has begun 😊
3- Not the time for discipline
Once you begin to get dressed for your session at home, do not discipline your child. Do not growl, scold, threaten, antagonize, yell at or give your child any negative interactions at all! It is NOT the time for discipline. It absolutely will not help and will most likely result in either crying or SUPER GRUMPY faces appearing in your beautiful family photos with almost certain refusal to do anything you ask. I repeat, for the dads in the back, DO NOT DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO OR DURING YOUR SESSION.
4- Let your kids be kids
Honestly, if you have a wild-child who likes to be free and run, let’s book an outdoor session. We can get to the destination, let the kids burn off some energy then snap your images. As a mother and photographer, I would also take advantage of your child’s high energy and do some running photos, jumping photos and anything else we could think of to allow your child to be his/her authentic self all the while still capturing your beautiful moments. I have found in these situations, interaction and instruction is key.
It is important to consider as well that children with this nature are generally happier to be photographed in a candid manner, meaning that you may end up with a few images of you all standing/sitting looking at the camera and smiling but it is unlikely that you will have ALLLLL the images looking like that if your child is high energy and simply won’t be still long enough.
5- Bring an extra set of hands!
At any session involving children you are more than welcome to have 2 adults present in the studio. If you are bringing both yourself and spouse, no additional persons can attend inside the studio but if you are a single parent you can absolutely bring your mum dad, sister, friend or sibling to help you with your children.
Especially with outdoor sessions the more hands, the better. Having said that, consider who you will bring. Perhaps not the crazy uncle that will rouse your children up further, but maybe nana or a favorite aunty that can help manage your child and occupy them while you’re having some couple’s photos done. They can also be helpful by standing behind the camera and trying to make your child laugh! To make it easier on yourself, please let them know they are not to be disciplining your child during the session as we want the children to be as happy as they can be!
And that’s it!
My tops tips for wrangling your children to behave during your session 😊
If you are absolutely certain you’d like to do a studio session but have a wild-child, we can work with that too. We have a lovely outdoor area, and I use things like a bubble gun or balloons to get your child outside between sets to burn off some of the crazy!
Just remember IT CAN BE DONE!
If you want any additional help with organizing a session, please feel free to reach out to me!
Take care,
Leigh
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