Children and babies can be very unpredictable but there are a few tips and techniques to help you capture your child’s best look at the portrait studio.
- If possible, schedule your appointment for the first one of the day. Not only will your child be his or her freshest, this will ensure that you won’t have to wait if the photographer falls behind schedule. Waiting makes kids (and parents) cranky- this does NOT make for a good picture.
- If you can’t schedule your appointment for the first one of the day, try scheduling on a weekday when it’s not as busy or vice versa. Better yet, schedule your appointment for the first one of the day on a weekday!
- Feed the kiddos right before leaving the house and bring a small non-messy snack in case you do have to wait. Hungry kids make cranky kids and this also does not make for a good picture!
- Choose your child’s clothes wisely. While prints and patterns may look adorable, they distract from the focus on your child. Solids look best. As hard as it may be to believe, light colors look best on light backgrounds and dark colors look best on dark backgrounds. If you have a background preference, keep this in mind. Your photographer will suggest what will look the best based on what your child is wearing.
- Your photographer may suggest bringing a change or two of clothing to capture different looks. Be aware that this will make it harder to choose a pose if the package you planned on buying only allows one pose. (look for a future post with my tips on how to save a bundle on portraits)
- Be clear with your photographer on what you want or don’t want. I personally don’t care for themed backgrounds or props so I make sure to tell them that before our session begins so that no time is wasted.
- Be prepared to encourage smiles from your children if your photographer isn’t having any luck. You know your kids best!
Our children grow up so fast and what better way to capture it than on film. I recommend having portraits taken at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months old and annually following the 12 month session.
Do you have any tips on photographing children? We’d love for you to share them by leaving a comment.
For your daily dose, check out the latest freebies, sweeps & paid surveys