Last Saturday I shot one of the most fun and fruitful photo sessions! A friend of mine dropped by with her two boys (7 year old Oleh and 5 year old Michael) for some family photos. The boys behaved so well that what started out as a quick portrait session turned into a whole day of fun for them and amazing photography for me. Sveta (the mom) says: "I prepared the boys for this session, but even I didn't think that they would do so well!" That got me thinking about ways of preparing and working with your children through the photo session, so that you get the best results. And while some of these advices might seem simple and repetitive, the bottom line is - they work! - Start preparing your children for a photo session by talking about it ahead of time. Make it feel like a treat for them, rather than a favor to you. It may be a little harder to do with older kids or teenagers, but try to be creative, for example, promise them a personal photo collage or some wallet-size prints to share with their friends.
- When scheduling a photo session, choose a good time of day for your child (not just convenient for you) and make sure to have plenty of extra free time before and after.
- Find a photographer that will work with you. Request extended session time if needed.
- Children are cautious around strangers and the photographer needs their trust to capture their true personality. So, don't expect immediate results from your child and the photographer. It is a good idea to come to your appointment earlier, ask for a tour of the studio and let your child meet and talk with the photographer.
- Relax. If you are tense or nervous it is not just going to show up on your pictures – it is going to affect your children and their mood.
- Quality over quantity. No need to hurry the process: it is better to get fewer shots of better quality.
- Most important: while in the camera room, do not attempt to direct your child! It's hard, I know, but it is a must! First of all, children tend to rebel against their parents' rules and, therefore, take much better directions from a photographer. Second of all, by directing them, you are breaking their concentration and bringing down their self esteem. They start looking awkward and uncomfortable in their poses, which is the thing you least desire at that moment. Finally, while your ideas about how your child should pose, smile, look or act may be good and you should definitely share them with your photographer, they may not fit your child's personality or character and will not help
create that stunning shot that you want. In fact, the photos that my customers usually like the most are the ones that they least expected. So, if you feel like you can't stay out of the photo session, I suggest, stay out of the camera room. - Remember that each child has his/her own "patience timer" and at some point it is bound to reach its peak. When that happens, don't press for "one last shot" – most likely it is going to be a bad one anyway. Instead suggest a short break, small snack or a change of set or clothes. During the free time make sure to praise your child on how well they are doing (sometimes it also helps to let them see some of their photos). If you see that none of those techniques are helping, it is best to reschedule the rest of the photos for another day.
Hope these tips help you with your next photo session! Good Luck!
