Many parents are apprehensive about doing a family photo shoot with their children. As they are concerned that they will not be able to get their children to dress, where to go, or how to pose. It can be exhausting to consider everything! In this blog post, I’ll address issue number one: how to do a photo shoot smoothly.
So Here Are Some Tips For Photo Shoot :
- BE FLEXIBLE : If you have a mental vision of how a photo shoot should go, be open to the possibility that it might not match your vision. During shoot, I always try to get a mix of candid and “looking at the camera” photos so that each image reflects my family and personality.
- SNACKS : If possible, ensure that your children have a decent lunch before the shoot, and always carry extra snacks. Keep in mind that you should bring dry, less sticky snacks to the shoot and also bring a water bottle and a wet wipe for any sticky faces.
- INCENTIVES : Well a small reward (cough, cough, bribery, ahem) for children who follow guidelines during a photo shoot is beneficial, just simply know your child and how they will react . The prospect of going out for ice cream after their portrait session excites most children. Once they discover that the shoot is considerably more enjoyable than they anticipated,then they won’t require any bribery.
- WAIT TO DRESS : Dress them right before the shoot, i advocate wait until the last minute for newborns, elder ones are easier to dress, as they are mature enough. Just look out for younger ones, as are the messier ones. And always bring a spare outfit for just in case situations.
- SLEEP : It’s best that the children should be well rested before the shoot, especially the younger ones. If your child had a bad night’s sleep or missed their nap, I’d rather reschedule than waste time attempting to persuade a cranky youngster to grin and giggle.
- WHERE TO LOOK : A parent gazing down at their child to make sure they are smiling and looking at the camera has ruined countless photographs. During other parts of the shoot, I’ll have you all interacting and looking at each other, but during the poses where we want everyone’s focus, let me do the work so you can all look fantastic.
- CLOTHING : Make sure you choose outfits that you can move around in without having to continually change. You could be sitting, strolling, running, throwing a child in the air, carrying, holding, or dancing with them. Wear shoes and an attire that will allow you to perform all of this without having to continuously alter your top, pull up your slacks, or straighten your accessories.
- BE PATIENT : Always be prepared to take breaks whenever its needed. When the spotlight is no longer on them, most children become bored or envious. Even if you have a flawless image in mind, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If they ares not interested, let them go their own way.
- BE SILLY : My best tip for getting children to smile spontaneously is to be totally ludicrous (which comes way too naturally to me). Most of these methods I learnt from my own children, therefore I strive to put them in situations where they can’t help but smile. The key to capturing genuine smiles during these ludicrous moments is to shoot the photo as soon as the children giggle or make a goofy face. They always have a natural smile following these events.
- HAVE A CHAT : Encourage your children to talk to you and the photographer about school or their favourite music. This will make them feel more at ease with your photographer, as well as provide an opportunity for your photographer to shoot some candid and cute emotions.