It doesn’t take long before kids form an opinion about your camera and a lot of the time, that opinion isn’t a good one. Even though we need to recognize when kids just aren’t going to cooperate, there are ways to make it more fun for them and get them excited about the process.
1. Get them involved
Letting children be part of the picture making planning is a great way to get them excited about the photos to come. Telling them that you want to take some photos and then asking them where you should go or what to do, or even what to specifically photograph, helps to get them involved. Kids love helping and being involved and when you allow them to be, they’ll be much more inclined and excited about being in front of the camera.
My kids love picking me fallen leaves, loose feathers, and random sticks as gifts and often request that I photograph them, knowing that the physical items won’t last forever.
2. Be sneaky
You can’t go undetected from the kids when you’re using a wide angle lens and want to get good facial expressions. Using a longer lens like an 85mm or even a 70-200 will allow you to scoot out of their play zone and still capture great faces in addition to their activity of choice. Often when I do this, my kids never even realize I’ve taken a few photos which might lead to a moment of confusion when they see the pictures later on 🙂 Using a long lens is also a great option when photographing a child client who is feeling bashful; standing further away will make you seem less intrusive and may start to put them at ease.
3. Go on an adventure
When you’re busy on an adventure, the kids are less likely to notice or care about your camera. I got a new lens over the summer that I really wanted to try out but my kids were so full of energy that day that I knew they wouldn’t sit patiently for me. Instead of begging for a little cooperation, my husband and I loaded up the kids and went for a nature walk on the beach. Not only did the kids have a blast but I also got plenty of time to try out my new lens with the kids not caring two cents about me. When I do this, I always make sure I don’t spend the entire time behind the camera so that I can still be fully in the moment with the family.
4. Don’t push them
Sometimes it’s just not going to work. My kids don’t usually mind my camera but now and then they tell me right out that they don’t want to do pictures. I respect that and put the camera away. As a result, I may not get the photo I want that day but it keeps them from disliking my camera and photos so I can get it another day.
5. Let them take a photo
What better way for them to understand why you want them to stand or sit somewhere then to let them take a photo themselves? This will help them comprehend what you’re doing behind that big black camera and what the result will be. Granted, this may result in them wanting to see the back of your camera every time you press the shutter but that’s okay, just be patient with them. Here I let my then 6 year old take a shot with my camera.
6. Do something fun
Perhaps this is a way of bribing, but I will sometimes choose something fun to do – like jump on the bed, bake cookies, or blow bubbles to get them motivated to take photos. They love that they get to have fun and don’t mind me snapping a few photos while they goof off.
Photos don’t have to be a begrudging activity to your children or your clients’ children. Getting in the mind of kids and finding a way to make it fun and interesting for them is all it takes, most of the time 🙂
Lover of thunderstorms and despiser of socks, April lives in rural Oklahoma with her firefighter/EMT husband and their 3 homeschooled kids. She is the Director of Online Media for Clickin Moms and the Instructor for CMU’s Exploring Creative Photography workshop, showing others about her love for unique perspectives, exposures, and compositions and not tying yourself down to one style.
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