Do you want to have a family photo session but worry about what to do with the kids to make everything go well?
Are you wondering how to prepare the little ones for the session, what to tell them, how to explain so they'll be good and smile?
I have good news for you!
You don't need to explain anything to them! "What?
What is she saying?!" ;) Don't worry, I'll explain.
Tips on NOT posing - everything you need to know
Do you want a photo session? Do you dream of beautiful frames, natural, full of smiles, emotions that you'll put in frames and hang on the walls of your home?
At the same time you think: "I don't know how to pose at all, I'm not good at this... and where are my kids in all this?
How will I manage them?
It will be total chaos!" - **this is where we get to the heart of the matter!
That's exactly the point!**
**In photography that's supposed to show naturalness and authenticity, not knowing how to pose is a huge advantage!
Don't believe it?
See what my methods are for achieving natural shots.**
First of all, this is exactly what lifestyle photography is about - it's ordinary everyday life captured in a slightly artistic way, but still completely natural.
We don't look at the lens, we can blink :D If we're taking photos in your home, the kids know this environment well and it's enough for them to play with their favorite toys, and I'll take a few photos without drawing attention to myself ;)
Second, small children won't understand at all that they should smile on command, and if you tell older ones "In an hour, the photographer lady is coming, be good and smile", do you know what you can expect?
Photos resembling those from elementary school, when each child was called to a stool, wide smile and click!
Teeth on top, fear in their eyes :D It won't resemble at all the genuine smile of your child that you know from daily antics. **The solution?
You just take care of what you can, what you have influence over - coordinated outfits, timing, and good mood.** That's enough.
You can tell the children that a new friend Kamila is coming and we'll have a good time together, or that we'll go for a walk together to a beautiful place.
look at these shots - just play with your child and they'll be joyful
have fun yourself too! then both of you will be happy ;)
My personal experiences show that the "less experienced models", the better.
Lifestyle sessions are meant to show the family as it is.
Sometimes calm, composed, other times full of emotions, chaos, or even misunderstandings.
Yes - misunderstandings.
Do you know how many times I've arrived at a session where in the first few minutes we worked on a topic that developed in that family just before the meeting, namely a teenager's rebellion, or a husband's "I don't want photos"?
How then do you do a session with a satisfying effect, and so that the whole family is satisfied, and not full of tension because of this session?
You'll find a few tips below
1. Preparing a good atmosphere already at home.
2. How to prepare children? Appropriate motivation.
3. Think of what children will do during the session.
4. Don't be afraid of judgment, because there won't be any.
1. Preparing a good atmosphere - already at home
Try to take care of the atmosphere of this day at home.
I know - easier said than done.
But maybe you can turn a blind eye to small misunderstandings when leaving home and not start arguments on the way to the session?
It will really be easier for you then to be close to each other, to show affection - and that's what you want in photos.
As I'll write further, the condition for successful, tender photos is being close to each other, touch, holding hands.
Will this work if the last words before leaving for the session are something unpleasant?
And attention: this doesn't only refer to couples, but also parent-child relationships.
2. How to prepare children? Appropriate motivation.
I observe that a common idea for motivating children to be good at a session is threats of punishment if they're not.
I don't want to judge parenting methods, but I see that it simply doesn't work. The child might then stand nicely out of fear and not run around, but is that really all we care about?
We want it to be a fun time when the whole family has fun.
Eyes are the mirror of the soul, and you can't help but distinguish forced obedience from the joy-filled eyes of a child who is actively and pleasantly spending time with parents.
First, even I, as a photographer, don't want anyone to pose at my sessions - that's not a lifestyle session then.
Second, if that's the narrative, then the session, instead of being something pleasant, becomes associated with trauma for the child.
Will the next one be better?
I don't think so.
Third, the child starts standing still and looking at the camera, but you can see, also in photos, that they're not happy.
3. Think of what children will do during the session.
Indeed, bringing many toys, teddy bears, blankets can be distracting.
It might turn out that children will fight over them, and their attention will constantly focus exclusively on toys. Adding to this that these toys would be inconsistent with the session - with the color scheme, place, it could destroy the whole atmosphere.
But maybe taking soap bubbles or a wooden toy car won't hurt, but actually help?
The key is to be flexible and not argue about details.
The child usually gets bored with such a toy quickly anyway, and we can do something else.
But they're happy that someone took their needs into account.
If children are occupied, they won't be bored.
I try to constantly think of what children and actually all session participants can do.
Maybe we can find a shell, a pebble?
Often such activities are more interesting for the youngest and they leave their plushies behind.
Nevertheless, there's no point arguing about such a thing.
For me, the priority is that everyone feels comfortable, including children.
4. Don't be afraid of judgment, because there won't be any.
It seems to me sometimes that many of these parental behaviors stem from fear of judgment.
Because how is it that the child is not in the mood, maybe even sulking, and here's a stranger watching.
Seriously, I'm not with you to judge.
I know that a session is a bit stressful for families with children, I know that children sometimes just have a bad day, and that their behavior at a given moment doesn't define you as good or bad parents.
It's just one hour taken from your life story and it might just be different.
Everyone has the right to those more difficult emotions sometimes, children especially.
So don't be afraid that something will happen if not everything goes according to your script.
Here, for example, was a situation where our balloon flew away... for the Little One it was a tragedy at that moment.
A big problem.
We have time to comfort the child, to hug.
_Actually!
Additionally, for me it's an opportunity to capture that moment when you lean down to the child to explain something.
We're in no hurry at all, "because of the session".
This is time for YOU.
At the beginning, I always try to get acquainted a bit with the little models.
The moment they take my hand and show me their room, I know we're at home, literally and figuratively ;)
