Kids Photograph | NICKIS.com

With the advent of digital photography and the ease of putting photos on your phone, the number of people with family photos is on a steep decline. One of the best ways to remember your kids' milestones is by taking photos of them as they grow up. By doing a little bit of kids photography with a professional photographer, you can be sure to create memories that you can keep for years to come. When it's time to take photos with your kids, keep in mind these 5 kids photography tips to ensure you have a great time on photo day.

Be Patient

You're going to need to be patient when you're taking photos with kids. Don't try to schedule things in a rush. You're going to have to get ready early, put them in their best outfit, and arrive nice and early and in a great mood. Rushing your kids will make them feel stressed out. Even if you feel stressed, you need to keep cool for the sake of having a smooth day of shooting photos with your kids. They'll notice your stress and it will amplify any discomfort they have.

Once you get to the site, you'll need to take a lot of extra takes to get the perfect photo. If you're not in the photo with your kids, you'll need to help the photographer out. They can't do the job of getting a perfect shot and make sure your kid sits still at the same time. Even if the photographer has an assistant, ask what you can do to help. If you're in the picture with your kids, you can have a little more control. If you're working behind the camera, defer to the photographer and be there to support the work they're doing.

Make It a Game with Rewards

One of the most clever ways to take photos with your kids is to turn the experience into a game with rewards. It can be something simple like they get a cheerio every time the camera snaps. It can also be more involved where you have a big treat waiting for them at the end of the photo session. Giving your kids the ability to participate with you in an upbeat game-like interaction means that they can feel like the whole experience has an objective. When you give your kids a mission, they'll feel special and take the session seriously. Once you've got them on the right page, you need to share the rules with the photographer. Have a short conversation with them over the phone before your photo shoot. Let them know how you think your kids will react and prepare them for any worries.

Even if you have static or a problem at the beginning of the session, roll with the punches. Never break character and don't let the game end until the end of the session, even if they end up in a place where they're unhappy. Rescue it with the absurdity of the game you created.

Go at Their Pace

Your kids will have a pace that works for them better than anything else. Don't expect them to do whatever you said or have them follow your plan to the letter. If they make a mistake, don't get mad at them. You know how hard it is to wrangle your kids. Don't yell at them as they're more likely to quit the whole experience. If you put them in time out or give them any kind of punishment, don't do it in front of everyone. Avoid making a big scene if they do something seriously wrong.

Go with the flow no matter what. Your kids might sit still for 10 straight minutes and freak out for the next hour. You need to be patient, listen to them, and if they don't feel comfortable, don't make them do something that they hate.

Be Ready

One of the most important pieces of advice is that you need to be ready when your kids arrive. Your camera(s) should be set up, lighting arranged, and props all in order. Showing up while everything is being set up is a total nightmare. People will be running around chaotically and could upset your kids.

You'll get pretty much one chance to take as many photos as you can with your kids looking cute, lacking frustration, and engaged with the camera. Once they break that concentration, it will be hard to achieve that again. Talk to your photographer beforehand for a plan. They'll have a series of photos they need and a second set that they want. Make sure you put all of your energy into keeping your kids happy and engaged before they jump out of their seats and start running for the door.

Have Fun

More than anything, your photo session should be fun. Your kids need to feel calm and relaxed but they should also be excited about the process. You can take this time to talk about what people did with film before we had digital photography. You can explain the process or talk about whatever they're interested in. Make sure you keep the vibe upbeat and continue to keep your kids' mouth moving so that it looks like they're really engaged. Fun pictures need to feel natural. Make sure that you bring up your favorite inside jokes or silly hats to keep your kids feeling energetic.

Kids Photography Can Be a Breeze

If you take your time and prepare for your kids photography day, you can breeze through it and even come away with some great photos. Those photos will be passed around the family for decades to come and are well worth the time you put in.

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