Preparing your children for a photoshoot may seem overwhelming, or even stressful, but these tips should help you prepare.
Hype up the experience
Bring up the photo session ahead of time, hyping up about how it’s going to be a fun day. Tell them that there’ll be music and dancing, with lots of time for laughing – really getting them excited to spend time with a fun photographer. It’s totally okay to refer to me as a friend, rather than “the photographer”. Kids love that feeling of comfort and won’t feel the insecurity of meeting a stranger.
Of course some children still need time to warm up and come out of their shell a bit. That’s totally okay! Extra time is added into sessions for shyness, talkativeness, etc.
Allow time for curiosity
New surrounding can be a lot for a child to take in, so plan to arrive early, allowing your child some time to explore and settle in. I’d never expect a child to walk in the door and be photo ready, so I always add some extra time to let out those wiggles and become comfortable in the new environment.
Fill those bellies
Be sure to have a meal before the session. No one is excited about anything when they’re hungry! I know I’m not alone when I say that I definitely don’t want to sit and look happy, when all I want to do is eat a sandwich!
Bring along a few favorite snacks during the session. Just be sure they aren’t messy! Stick to plain crackers or dry cereal (like cheerios or kix). Definitely avoid anything filled (cream or chocolate), powdered, sticky, or chocolate.
Sleep is priority
A rested child is a happy child, so be sure not to skip naptime. Even more importantly, do not schedule during naptime. For younger children, it’s best to schedule for earlier in the day, so they are not overstimulated or cranky after a long day of other activities.
Keep usual sleep schedules in mind, even for older kids. If you’re children aren’t early risers, they likely won’t be receptive to an early morning session.
Choose comfy clothes
I do offer for you to “shop” my closet for your session but of course you are welcome to choose your own outfits, too. Try to avoid fabrics that are too clingy or scratchy, as being uncomfortable will likely end up being their focus for the duration of the session. Additionally, it’s a great idea to change once you arrive, so there’s no worrying about wrinkles or messes on the way to the studio.
Don’t force smiles
Our goal is to achieve natural expressions, so it’s best to avoid trying to force smiles. Directing a child to smile often results in cheesy grins with ultra wide or super squinty eyes.
Keep in mind, kids become curious. They get wiggly and they lose their attention span. This is totally to be expected and it’s okay to roll with it! For times like this, it often helps for parents to step away, allowing us a bit of one-on-one time.
Watching over a child, threatening punishment if they don’t smile or telling them to “look”, will just become overwhelming for everyone and not result in the natural expressions you are seeking.
At the end of the day, the goal is for your child to feel comfortable, happy, and free to be themselves. These little tips help make the session smoother, but don’t stress if everything doesn’t go perfectly. Kids are wonderfully unpredictable, and that’s part of what makes their photos so full of life. I’ll guide you through every part of the process so you can relax and actually enjoy watching your child shine in front of the camera.