We know that getting your kids on board for a photo session can be a challenge at times.
A common concern we hear from parents when it comes to doing family photo sessions is how difficult it can be to get the kids excited about it. While there is the occasional kid that can’t get enough of being in front of a lens, most can tend to be a bit camera shy. We want your family photo session to be an enjoyable experience for the whole family! Our goal is that you all look through those photographs in years to come with fond memories of the day. So, here are some tips to help your session with the kids run smoothly!
1. Find a Photographer that Enjoys Working with Kids
When selecting a photographer for your family photos be sure to look for one that works with kids. This can make all the difference! Finding a great photographer that you connect well with is important. As you are around them year after year for Holiday cards, birthdays, and milestones in your life, your kids will open up as they get more familiar with the process and the person behind the lens.
2. Look for Mini Sessions
Sometimes diving into an hour-long or more session can be a lot for your kids to handle. Mini sessions can be a perfect solution! They can range from 15 – 30 mins depending on the photographer. They offer a great time frame to get some beautiful shots and test the waters to see how your kids like it. It can always be a great way for you to test out a photographer to see if you click well too.
3. Outfit Choice
Lots of kiddos out there love having their own unique sense of style. We know that this can tend to be a tricky road when you are wanting to get the family into coordinating outfits. We have a few pieces of advice for you in this department.
First, plan to gather a couple of options that would work nicely in the overall color scheme & style of the photos you are wanting. Let them be involved in narrowing things down and picking their favorite outfit from your carefully curated selections. However, if you have your heart set on putting them in a particular outfit but still want to give them the freedom to showcase their own sense of style, you can always encourage them to have an outfit change during the session! Have them ready to go in your pick but bring along an outfit of their choosing. A few mins before the end of the session let them change into their other look and have the photographer snap a few more photos. This is great because you’ll be able to look back on those fun-loving outfits with fondness! It will be a win-win for you both!
Another thing you can try is to really make an experience out of it and take them shopping with you! In order to keep them on track and make it fun, add a bit of a treasure hunt element to it. If you know you would love to have them wear a blue or white dress tell them that’s what they will have to search the store for!
4. Location
Location choice can be key! Pick a park with a fun playground they can go play at when photos are done. Or the beach! Taking a trip over to the seaside can not only make a gorgeous setting for photos but a fun place to stay to picnic and play afterward.
5. Reward
Some children aren’t exactly hyped by the idea of getting their picture taken especially if it’s going to take more than 2 minutes. We recommend planning to do something super fun as a family afterward. Then the kids have something to look forward to. Plan to go for ice cream, playtime at the park, or a visit to one of their favorite local places. It will be a treat for them but also make for a fun day spent together as a family. You can even plan on just jumping into the pool afterward like this bunch!
6. Snacks!
This one is of utmost importance! As I’m sure all you parents know out there, keeping snacks on hand to keep hunger at bay can help things run smoothly. Avoiding hangry meltdowns will benefit everyone.
7. Remember to Have Fun!
I know it can be frustrating when kids aren’t exactly behaving properly and there is a sense of pressure. It can be easier said than done, but be prepared to take a short break if needed. Let the photographer and their team do their magic. Take some time to focus on getting some candid photographs of your family interacting and having fun if posing isn’t going great at first. We want you all to have fun and enjoy the time you spend capturing these important stages of life together.
Are You Looking for a Family Photographer in Orlando?
We hope these simple tips will help you the next time you take some family photos and make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
If you are interested in booking us for your family photos in the Orlando area, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We would be honored to get to know you and your family!
Thank you so much for checking out this blog. These blogs are a place where we can share our amazing experiences with our clients. You can read our first blog and learn more about Remain Photography here.
– Kellie & Jorge
