This is my top 5 Tips to have a Great Photo Session with kids
If you’ve ever had a photo session involving your children, you know how crazy and chaotic getting ready can be! I have two small boys myself, and know firsthand that getting ready for a family photoshoot can be so challenging and frustrating. Seriously, us mamas (and sometimes papas!) deserve a medal!
Our beloved children aren’t always easy to deal with (there, I said it).
We want them to be at their best, look sweet, candid and natural, right? And we don’t want our own faces to be flushed and grumpy, begging or forcing smiles.
Even if you don’t book your Punta Cana session with us (which of course we hope you do!), these tips should help you have a smoother photoshoot with kids.
But why wouldn’t you have your Island session with us? It’s only THE most fun & unique photo-taking adventure you’ll find. Yeah, we’re that awesome! 🙂
XOXO Karina
1. Don’t make it a big deal. If you’re stressed out and overwhelmed over getting allllllllllllll the things … it will affect everyone’s energy and mood. I know, I know, you’re making sure everyone looks nice & color coordinated, hair is brushed, nails are clean, snacks are packed, no one is fighting, and on and on! Who wouldn’t get a tad bit cranky – I know I do! It’s just that … our kids will usually pick up on it and act, ahemmmmm.. not exactly how you wish they would.
If mama & papa manage to be relaxed and patient, kids’ behave better. You may have to make some compromises to keep good peace. That means, let your energetic son’s shirt flow instead of having it perfectly tucked in, or let your daughter’s hair stay natural instead of curling it because she won’t sit still. Often what we do before the photo session sets the tone for how it will go. Focus on the big picture and don’t sweat the small stuff. Let your kids be themselves. On that note – for beach photo sessions here in Punta Cana it’s actually really nice to be more relaxed and casual rather than dressed to the nines.
2. Make it fun. This one is HUGE. We need to let the kids have some “fun pictures” where they get to pick their own poses or use their own props. When we go with the flow, this allows for them to express creativity – and the results might pleasantly surprise us! (Like my son who found a giant stick and demanded a portrait with it. We love it so much that it ended up in a frame!) We need to let them be in control sometimes, that’s the magic. (Or at least make them believe they are!) You get to have your more posed images while they get to have their silly ones. Everyone wins!
Over the years I’ve developed some super fun, engaging and effective ‘prompts’ that turn the photo session into a game. Simon Says usually works like a charm. Or building a sand castle as a family.
If you book a session with us, we design an experience specifically for your family!!
3. Come prepared. If you’re going to be out for several hours, make sure your children are well rested and have had their nap. (I know this one is tricky, but try to make it a priority) Bringing some snacks and activities along is also a great idea. You know best what holds your kids’ attention! (I often have a secret stash of fun things, but better with too much then too little, am i right? And not all photographers are as awesome as we are, hehe).
If possible, bring a babysitter or family member, so that you can have some gorgeous portraits just with your partner. This is something that we tend to forget with small children! If you happen to be shooting in a remote location, like one of our favorite beaches here in Dominican Republic, you never know when you might need something like bug spray, sunblock, tissues, a change of clothes, and water. (I always have my little first aid kit to bring along too, although I’m proud to say I haven’t needed to use it!)
4. Be patient. You gotta save your own sanity by trying not to control the photo session too much. This is hard, as we all have our expectations! Trust us, the best photos come from kids just doing their own thing. Candid, real moments will have more meaning for you as the time goes by, as they grow up. If your kids aren’t doing exactly what you want, be patient and go with it. Your kids are co-creating with you!
Funny thing, I’m way more patient with other kids than my own! So don’t worry, when it comes to our famous Island Family Sessions I’ve got you back … whether that means coming up with a fun games that photographs beautifully, or sitting down and relaxing for a while, cracking jokes, or instigating a tickling match.
5. Have a chat. Get your children talking about stuff that matters to them. Pets back home, their favorite songs or superhero characters! I deliberately spend the first few minutes of our Island photo sessions chatting with the kids, without cameras. It’s important that they know I see them, that I’m not just a stranger telling them what to do. This allows them to take their guard down and be themselves. And that’s how magic happens!
