Tips for Making Your Richmond Hill Family Photoshoot with Children Easier
As a Richmond Hill and Brunswick Family and Newborn photographer, I have seen a wide variety of families, and most of them tell me their biggest struggle is…kids. Let’s face it, taking portraits with children can get a bit stressful. Parents want that perfect shot where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera so they can hang it over their fireplace with pride, but that’s not always what happens. Being an experienced photographer is helpful because I am able to adapt to situations quickly, but sometimes that family portrait may be a little different than what you envisioned, but also a complete representation of your children and you at that time of your life. And there’s nothing wrong with that!
To lend you a hand, I’ve gathered my top 5 tips for both difficult age groups in children to help you prepare for your session. These have helped me get smiles and children looking at the camera for many years!
Children (ages 18 months and up)
Timing is Everything: Avoid the nap time blues! Schedule your session when your little ones are well-rested and in their happy zone.
Mini Assistant: Turn them into your little helpers! Kids love feeling important, so let them assist during the shoot – they'll totally be into it. I personally love when my client’s child hands me something I need, or wants to help their sister smile. They feel important and recognized and therefore stay more engaged!
Toy Power: Bring their favorite toy! Nothing grabs their attention like their absolute faves. It's the ultimate trick to keep those smiles front and center. If there’s a fun “Wheels on the Bus” video they love, put it on your phone so we can all sing along!
Rewards for the Win: Plan a post-session treat, or maybe they get to pick a small toy at the store, maybe there’s even an activity at home they’ve been dying to do. Knowing there's a special reward waiting after the shoot will definitely get us over some rough hurdles during the shoot.
Dress for Comfort (and weather!): Make sure they're comfy in their clothes, and check the forecast. Sometimes dress clothes can cause sensory issues in children. The material may be scratchy or tight and they don’t like it. Try their clothes on for their session as far in advance of the date as possible so you can make adjustments. Sometimes children will just sit down and refuse to take pictures because their shoes aren’t comfortable. If you focus on style along with their comfort it will make the session run a lot smoother!
Babies (up to 18 months)
Noisy Toys: This will be the only time you’ll be ok with their favorite toys rattling around, making beeping noises, shaking, laughing…all of it! Always bring at least 2-3 favorite toys with some jingly vibes that will keep those tiny eyes on the camera and the giggles rolling. Interactive toys with sounds, lights, and bold colors like these are a favorite!
Comfy is Best: Dress your little cutie in cozy threads. We want those baby babbles, not outfit protests, so comfy clothes are a win! Also remember if it’s too big on them it will bunch up typically in the chest and cover their chin, so be careful of sizing when you purchase.
Time to Accessorize: Accessories are adorable on babies, but hold off on the adorable headbands and bow ties until the last minute. A lot of babies have zero patience with these things, and that cute headband might be tossed across the room if put on too early. You almost want to surprise them with putting it on before they realize it, then that gives us a few extra seconds to can get the shot!
Funny Business: Share the giggles! Let me know what silly phrases or noises crack up your baby – we're here to capture those precious belly laughs.
Snack Attack: Keep the munchies close. Whether it's a bottle, some Gerber puffs, or a snack straight from the super-source (that's you, moms!), happy tummies mean happy photos.
All-in-all, babies get tired super fast at sessions, so our biggest tip is to not expect too much or too long out of them!
