Don’t say ‘Cheese!’
Photos of our kids are some of our most precious possessions. However, capturing those beautiful shots that bring out their character and personality, and those fab expressions that change all-too-quickly, can be really tricky.
One of the hardest things is getting them to smile naturally. We’ve all been there – the more you try to tell your children to smile, say 'cheese', look at the camera, sit still… the more they’ll do the opposite, or produce those fake toothy grins that don’t do justice to their gorgeous smiles – the ones where their eyes really sparkle.
Kids behave in different ways in front of a camera, depending on their age, their mood, how shy/mischievous/energetic/tired they are feeling, and what is going on around them. I often find on a shoot that the parents feel responsible for making their kids smile and behave in certain ways.
I try to reassure them that the trick is not to try - it's often better to let them lead the way and go with their flow. When they are enjoying themselves and absorbed in their own moment those brilliant smiles will come naturally. Here are some examples from my own work and some tips on how I got the shot.
Sometimes the best smiles come out in a moment of pure affection and love. Encouraging interaction and connection, rather than directing for the camera, can produce some heart-warming results.
A technique I often use is to ask the parents to stand behind me and try to make the child laugh. This will never work if you just tell them to laugh - but pulling silly faces normally does the trick 🤪
I managed to get this shot while the kids were chasing each other round the playground. Rather than trying to keep up with them, I decided to make it easy and positioned myself in a spot I knew they'd be running past. Getting down low helped frame this wonderfully giggly face against the sky.
Tickling is a fail-safe way to get smiles and laughter. I'll normally start by asking the kids to pose nicely with the parents and take a couple of pictures, before giving the green light to commence tickling.
Not interfering in the scene at all is often the right way to go. This picture was taken with a slightly longer range lens so that I didn't disturb that magical, right-in-the-moment expression.
Summer family photo shoots 🌞
I have just released dates for my family sessions this summer. If you’re thinking of me to capture some of your family’s magic this summer, and would like to know more about my approach to family photography, and my prices and packages, just click below to download my brochure. When you’re ready to book, just reserve a slot in my online calendar, pay the session fee (£75) and I’ll be in touch to confirm details.
Autumn dates (1st September - 1st December) aren’t yet available. If you’d like to be the first to know when autumn dates are released, get first dibs on sessions, as well as a discount and special bonus, just sign up to my Autumn Wait List and I’ll be in touch again in early August.
Want to take better pictures yourself?
As the adage goes, the best camera is the one you have on you. Our phones have made photographers of us all, recording our everyday experiences, holidays and fun times together. As a photographer it’s easy to get snobbish about phone cameras. For sure, they don’t have all the capabilities of a ‘proper’ camera. But they have many unique advantages, and some of my most precious pictures were taken with my phone. I’ve written a guide to taking better photos with your phone camera - just click below to get your free download.
