10 Tips to Prepare Your Kids for a Photo Session
Let's face it:
Everything is harder with kids. Simple things like going somewhere in the car, getting ready for bed, cleaning up the kitchen, or making a phone call are all now so much more difficult than they used to be. I, for one, definitely took the ability to go to the bathroom uninterrupted for granted.
So I know how daunting it may feel to get family photos taken with your whole crew. With this in mind, there are 2 things that I strive for:
To make planning for your session as pain-free as possible
To make the session a fun experience that you'll remember fondly, rather than 'just a photoshoot'
To make that second goal a reality, here are my tips for getting your kids session-ready!
1. Tell them what to expect: Just like you prep your kids to go to the doctor or to school, start prepping them in advance for the session. Frame it as a fun adventure with a new friend tagging along to take pictures. Emphasize that you’ll be playing games and having fun as a family and that there is no pressure to perform.
2. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready: Remember what I said earlier - everything is harder with kids, including getting dressed and out the door. Allow plenty of time so that you’re not frazzled before you even arrive.
3. Let them be themselves! I don’t expect perfectly-behaved kids, and neither should you. Wild kids make for the most expressive and fun photos!
4. Make sure everyone is well-rested and well-fed: If you’re a parent, then you know this is just common sense for any new situation.
5. Give them something to look forward to: Maybe you can go for ice cream after the session, or the playground, or another favorite activity. Don’t make promises you don’t want to keep, but having that extra incentive is sometimes helpful when the excitement of the session starts to fade.
6. Pack Wisely: Bring along snacks (the less messy, the better), water, favorite toys or stuffies. If it’s going to be cold, bring layers - they can make for some fun variety in your photos too. Depending on your location, it might be helpful to bring an extra set of clothes for them to change into after the session. I like to encourage kids to explore freely, so it’s possible they could get dirty or wet and I’m sure you don’t want that in your car!
7. Plan outfits ahead of time: Pick outfits ahead of time and have everyone try them on. Make sure everything fits and is comfortable. This way you’re not surprising them with something else new on the day of and you’re not surprised if it doesn’t fit!
8. Go with the flow: This is not the day for teaching life’s tough lessons. Let the little things go, let them misbehave a little bit. Honestly the wild child is really fun to work with and you get a lot of variety in your gallery with them! Plus, part of the point of this session is document what your kids are like at this age. If they’re cheeky, let them be cheeky.
9. Get there a little early: This gives you time to get everyone unloaded and walking to the session location without feeling rushed and ensures we don’t lose precious time and/or light!
10. Remember to have fun and stay positive: No matter how it goes, you’ll be surprised at the magic I can capture. Keep moving, keep smiling, keep loving on your kids, and I'll take care of the rest!
Feel better now? Great!