Five tips to help your kiddos love your photo session
Your photo session - one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have, can sometimes begin as a stressful, anxious time. After photographing families in the Traverse City area for the past eight years, and dealing with my own kids’ hesitation with a photography session, I’ve found I repeatedly share these five tips with families to help their photo session be fun and stress-free for all.
Tip #1
Be excited and looking forward to your photo session yourself
One thing I’ve found as a mom to be true is that my kids can tell when I’m stressed, feel hurried, or don’t look forward to something. They will often adopt that attitude themselves toward whatever event is at hand. Tip number one is to get excited and look forward to your photo session yourself. This is a treat for your family, not something that happens everyday, and the result will be gorgeous artwork for your home. When your kids see you are excited for this fun event, they will tend to follow your lead and get excited themselves.
TIP #2
Prepare ahead of time, mentally and physically
Sure, best laid plans can fail, but it is much better to be prepared than to wing it. If your children are young, let them know you are all going on a fun outing with a friend and that your friend is taking pictures of you while you have fun. If your children are older, let them know the when and where details of your photo session. Share with them why this session is important to you. When kids have the opportunity to know what is going to happen, they tend to feel more comfortable and less nervous for a new experience.
On the same note, prepare what you will wear ahead of time. During our time together at your planning consultation, we’ll go over all the details of wardrobe and vision. You’ll receive a reminder in the week before your family photo session to have everything ready to go - socks picked out, clothes ironed, shoes that fit your kids (I’m guilty of waiting until the last minute to find appropriate shoes for events!). This preparation will help relieve day-of stress and tears.
Tip #3
Give choices
Let your children and significant other have choices. Give them two options of what to wear. Offer three locations where your session could take place. When they take ownership in planning, they’ll have more buy-in and as a result be excited and happy to be part of the photo session.
Tip #4
Let Them Play
Yes we will get beautiful classic portraits of your family, but most of our time together will be spent playing, running, and laughing. This will give your kids the freedom to “just be” and not feel like they have to perform. Feeling the pressure of having to “be good” often has the opposite effect. During your consultation appointment you’ll have the opportunity to share any games, songs, or little jokes that your family enjoys together. We will incorporate this into your session and that will be a sure recipe for authentic smiles and giggles resulting in photographs you love.
Tip #5
Be present in the moment and enjoy your family
As moms we are often preoccupied with making sure every need is met and every plan is perfect. After having worked together in your consultation appointment, you’ll be able to relax knowing we have planned the perfect session for your family. This will allow you to be present with your kids during your session. Think about each one and what you love about them at this moment in time. Snuggle them close, breath them in. Not only will this help you relax, but you will find yourself truly enjoying your time together. Your kids will love the undivided attention, and your family will walk away feeling filled.
A few more quick tips:
bring along your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal
have a few simple snacks along for the very youngest
set realistic expectations (everyone might not feel like smiling all the time)
The opportunity to spend time with your loved ones in beautiful Northern Michigan is a perfect foundation for a good time together. When you throw in these five tips to help your kids love your photo session even more, you’ll create memories that last well beyond that single moment in time.
