“I love sitting still and fake smiling for photos!” -no kid ever
I have a little secret… It’s one of the most important components required for genuine, natural looking family photos, and it might surprise you. Want to know what it is?
MOVEMENT.
I know, I know. It feels a little backwards, especially since parents (and photographers!) have been telling kids to sit still for photos FOR YEARS. But when we allow movement into our photos, we are making the experience less stuffy (more enjoyable!) AND we are capturing actual MOMENTS. Here are 3 prompts I love to use for creating fun photos with your kids!
1. Run away and come back
If there’s one sure way to encourage kids to HATE family photo day, it’s by telling them they have to sit still. By giving them moments to be wild and free, we are not only getting snippets of their personalities, but we are also giving them space to enjoy themselves. Wouldn’t it be great if their memories of family photo day WEREN’T that is was long and boring and full of side eye from mom? Another bonus: while the kids run away to get their crazy on, we can use that opportunity to get photos without them! We don’t want to forget about the photos of just the parents, and pictures with the older kids. Not everyone has to be present for EVERY photo – the variation is one of the things that makes your gallery extra special.
2. Kiss attack
“Give mom a kiss” is sweet when it works, but sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes kids don’t want to cooperate, and we need to make it more fun for them. Kiss attack is when we tell your child to give you as many kisses as they can, as fast as they can. Another option is to reverse it: you kiss attack the kids with kisses as fast as you can. I recommend wearing a lip stain to your session so you can give all the kisses you want, without the mess! 🙂
3. Bumper car hips
I love the laughs we get from this one. Have the family *gently* bump their hips on the person next to them. It’s important to include the rule that the goal is NOT to hurt the person next to them (lol). You can walk toward the camera or stay in one place for different variations, but either way the result is similar: movement makes the photos look organic, and the playfulness gives some pretty amazing smiles from everyone.
The bottom line: we want your family photo session to be fun and your images to be genuine. Let’s work together to come up with ways your kids will WANT to participate, without realizing they are actually cooperating!! If you’re ready to schedule your next round of family photos, please REACH OUT so we can chat!
