Tips for Getting Kids to Smile for Pictures
by: Kristen Duke Photography
{we love her}Hello friends! Ashley asked me to do a post on some photography basics, so I thought I’d share something that would help the momma’s out there trying to get their kids to just LOOK AT THEM for a picture. I know a lot of you can feel my pain when you get blank stares or grumpy frowns or just plain ignoring your requests. As a momma myself, I have to have a LOT of tricks up my sleeve to get my own kids to smile at the camera (no, they aren’t used to it and happyily comply, I have to work for it). Right now in my family, I am dealing with my hardest client ages–the 2 year old and the 10 year old boy–Neither want to do what you ask when it comes to picture taking! Luckily my 6 year old daughter loves the camera!
by: Kristen Duke Photography
{we love her}Hello friends! Ashley asked me to do a post on some photography basics, so I thought I’d share something that would help the momma’s out there trying to get their kids to just LOOK AT THEM for a picture. I know a lot of you can feel my pain when you get blank stares or grumpy frowns or just plain ignoring your requests. As a momma myself, I have to have a LOT of tricks up my sleeve to get my own kids to smile at the camera (no, they aren’t used to it and happyily comply, I have to work for it). Right now in my family, I am dealing with my hardest client ages–the 2 year old and the 10 year old boy–Neither want to do what you ask when it comes to picture taking! Luckily my 6 year old daughter loves the camera!
My dad said if you want people to remember something you are teaching, give them a set of three points and it will stick better (Did you notice that with my e-book?) So I’ve got 3 tricks for the young ones and 3 tips for the older kids.
3 tricks for getting young kids to smile:
1. One word phrases
“Cheese” is SO overdone…the kids are tired of it and by now they’ve heard it so much that they move their lips in a straight line and show some teeth but their eyes are totally annoyed and rarely even make eye contact. Change up those one word phrases you have them say. Some of my favorites for kids or groups: “Yee–haw” or “happy” or “Hooray!” or “pizza.” Throw out any words for them to repeat. It can be anything from their favorite treat to their favorite cartoon character to their favorite toy. Have them repeat what makes them happy and they will think happy thoughts.
2. Sing a song
We want to get the children to a place that brings happiness in order to capture happiness. As the momma (or aunt or grandma), you know their favorite song, start singing it! If they don’t sing along, they will surely smile as they hear it. Twinkle Twinkle or Old McDonald or Wheels on the Bus are standard favorites, but I often ask kids (if I don’t know them well) what shows they like to watch and I am finding myself singing about Dora or Elmo or even Barney. Singing the words wrong can actually be pretty funny as well. The little ones will correct you. One time, I kept singing it wrong even after correcting, and I got a grumpy face. I think I just took that one too far;)
3. Have a bag of tricks
First, I pull out a little yellow hair scrunchy that has been converted to a duck. It wraps around my lens and I tell the young kids to look right at the duck and quack. I try to wait until I am desperate when I pull out a ball or a rattle to get their attention. I do this because often the little ones want to hold it and my plan could backfire. I throw the ball up in the air, or put it right by the camera and say I am going to throw it at them. The anticipatory smile is all worth it. I have a silver bell ornament from Christmas that I like to bring out because in the event that the young child wants to hold the ball, it isn’t too ugly to stay in his hand for the pic. A stick or book can “bonk” the photographer on the head or leg and you can actually yell “OWW” and that brings on the laughs as well. This requires an extra person doing the “bonking.” This shot below what my head getting “bonked” by my reflector as I pretended to get hurt.
3 tricks for getting older kids to smile:
1. Have a conversation
Show interest and have a chat about life. Ask about school, friends, sports, skateboarding, vacations, birthday wish list, their favorite show, etc. By asking questions and getting them to talk, they forget about the grumpiness that surely presented itself when you pulled out the camera.
2. Have some music at the ready
Teens love their music and it usually puts them in a good mood. Whether you ask them to bring their ipod, or tune the car radio to their favorite station, you are sure to get a happy face. You may even get to capture a dance move. Seriously, I love those kinds of candid shots!
3. Ask about their girl/boy friend.
They may not have one, but the idea of this brings a “no way” or a big smile as they think of that person they are crushing on. Whether they try to deny it, or paint you a picture of all of their loves’ exquisite details, you will get a smile.
If you have some suggestions on getting kids to smile, please share! I can always use new ideas…especially for my own kids!
P.S. Ashley mentioned my Say NO! to Auto e-book and workshops on here last week. I want to mention that I had a location change for my July 23rd California workshop. It was going to be in San Diego, but it is now in Huntington Beach. So if that is closer to you, please let me know if you’d like to attend! If you aren’t close to there or my Texas locations, look up my skype mentoring info for some one on one Q&A!
Oh, and if I haven’t given you enough links to pass the time, com
e on over to my facebook page and become a fan because each Friday (today!), I have a Facebook Freebie where I give away full resolution files of landscape images I have taken. Print as you please.
Have a great Friday!
Ashley Stock
Blogger at Little Miss Momma
I'm Ashley. Sometimes I craft, occasionally I cook, everyday I write, and I'm always Momma. This is my blog. I keep it real while still seeing the rainbows and butterflies in all of life's lessons.
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This is perfect! I always love the photography tips and I use the rattle one all the time. (works for a baby, might need to change it up in the future)
Great tips! I'm not a pro photographer but a mom that's always trying to get a smiling picture of her kids.
Love this!! I have been trying to find ideas to get my 2 yr old to smile for pictures!
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Great tips… Thanks for sharing.
To get my kids to smile…I bring out tickle fingers. So happy that my DSLR is set up for true one hand shooting. I just wave the fingers on one hand and shoot with the other. I also make a total fool of myself by dancing sometimes.
really great tips, i'm always trying to figure out how professional photographers get kids to behave so well
. this post would be perfect to link to my "photo friday" link party. i have bri from mod memento guest posting today! i'd love it if you stopped by. http://milesandmems.blogspot.com/ thanks!
We have the hardest time getting my son out of his "camera smile" I can't wait to try these tricks!
Lots of good ideas! I really love it!
I love her photography! Thanks for the fab tips! I always have the hardest time getting kids to look! lol! PS I'm having a Summer Luvin' Saturday party tomorrow…you should link up all the summer fun you and Baby W are having!
http://www.poutypinkprincess.blogspot.com
Great post! I love Kristen Duke's work. I just bought the e-book and it's great. I'm looking forward to the intermediate book. When I do kiddie photos, bubbles and lollipops are a hit. The kids let loose, have fun, and it makes for great shots.
Great tips! To get my two year old to smile while my husband takes pictures I usually stand behind him and jump out and say "BOO!" or, well, this is embarrassing… I make silly noises and sometimes even make myself burp. He's a boy, so naturally he thinks it is hilarious!
this is helpful, thanks! i feel like it's tough though when it's my own kids. they listen better to other people. but then i figure, oh well, if they're not looking or smiling i'll just remember that's what they were like at this age
but these tips are definitely helpful. will try them!
spinning-threads.blogspot.com
Great post! Some good ideas on there!!
GREAT Ideas! My 4 yr old is so hard to photograph right now. And my 8 month old just kinda is all over the place
Thanks so much for this!
i really love the velocity (by mary kay) facewash. it's really gentle. A friend once told me that face wash with that sandy/gritty stuff actually MAKES you break out. dunno if it's true but it's worth looking into.
I had a photographer once tell me that asking your child to say "cupcake" usually creates a smile or at least forms your mouth into the shape of a smile.
For one reason, I can’t see all of this content, stuff keeps disappearing? Are you taking advantage of javascript?
For one reason or another, I can’t see all of this blog, stuff keeps hiding? Are you using DHTML?
what kid of projces could i do that makes kids smiley and whant to learn
Genuinely….my heart melted a bit more with every scroll down.
Now it’s all puddly and ready to go sit in one of those spaces using a book and some tea.
The Hulk vs. Superman will be a wonderful and epic struggle.
I have no idea who would win, but my money could be on hulk.
Hulk is like doomsday in his very first appearance( by the way dooms
day is far more powerful than superman now since of Evolutionary Regenerative Healing Aspect which means he
can’t be killed twice inside the same way). He won’t stop until
their is a reason to stop. It would take months, plus several planets for this fight to conclude.
It would probably end the same way also. This is a
comic so I wouldn’t place to a lot importance in it.