If you are a parent you will eventually be faced with the task of calming your child to get a family photo or just photos of the little one. Now, although the photos look amazing online when you are on Pinterest or Instagram, there is a lot of preparation to help a child become comfortable with the camera and stay still for those perfect shot. We have dealt with this type of problem time and time again have seen how often the parents struggle to keep their child calm for a few minutes to capture the perfect family photo.
With that being said, we often help the parents with this step and see that a few things work really well. The purpose of this blog is to give some pointers and tips for parents that are in this particular situation and help them make their life a little easier. Below you will find 5 tips that we have found to be most useful and beneficial to get the results you want.
Tip #1: Get down to their level
We found that this trick is one of the most effective ways to calm a child down and get them to look at the camera and smile. When you are eye level with a child you will instantly improve the possibility of taking that amazing photo you want. We often try to bend down, sit down, or even lay on the floor to get that shot. If you are at eye-level with the child they are more likely to be receptive to what you have to say and pose for the shot that you want.
Tip #2: Have them familiar with the camera
A photo shoot may seem simple, however, we often forget that even adults feel uncomfortable with cameras and taking photos. The act of looking into a camera and posing for a picture can make people of all ages struggle. The two things you need to have when taking photos of children are patience and persistence. Children take a while to get accustomed to the camera and you cannot force it upon them because you will never see results that way. The natural shots that you wish to capture will only come with persistent photos and patience that you will capture the photo you want.
Tip #3: Make things simple
Now although we all love the amazing backgrounds and toys around children when taking photos we also need to take into account the fact that children get distracted very easily. Try to keep colorful objects and clothing away from a photo shoot to help children stay focused on the photo shoot and not on the items around them. Anything that seems interesting will grab the child’s attention and will make taking a good photo very difficult.
Tip #4: Let them see your face
What we have seen in most photo shoots with children is that they are nervous and scared when the parents are not within close range to them. When the parents show their face, the children usually are more comfortable with the photos and remain calm throughout the shoot. With the parents behind the camera looking at their child, they are usually more comfortable. When the parents begin to make faces and smile toward their child they are more likely to laugh and smile which allows the photographer to take that priceless photo.
Tip #5: Your timing is crucial
When you are working with children you often have a second or less to snap a perfect photo. Every second matter when working with kids because in the matter of a second a child can go from smiling to crying. This is important because if you are looking to get a great photo while your baby is smiling you really don’t have too much time to take the photo and ensure that he/she will stay that way. Make sure that you are ready to take the photos at all times because you never know when your child is in the position to take the perfect photo.
Here at Picaboost we are constantly trying to help our community and the individuals who are interested in photography. We truly hope that this helps you for your next photoshoot with the young ones and helps you get that amazing shot. If you need more guidance and are looking for someone to take care of your photography needs feel free to reach out to us today! We eagerly look for more clients to help.