Tips For Photographing Your Own Kids / Bay Area Photographer
During SIP, many family photo sessions have been cancelled and photos may not be in the budget for families during this time. If you want to try and take photos of your own kids, these tips and tricks will help you avoid tears and meltdowns. If you don’t have a DSLR camera, your iphone will work just fine! Put it on portrait mode and snap away!
Make sure they have eaten - no child performs well when they are HANGRY. Fill those bellies beforehand!
Let go of expectations - realize that your child won’t sit still, look at the camera, tilt their head just so and give a natural smile just because you ask them to. You will end up frustrated and so will they!
Give them fun and engaging commands - have them pick a dandelion and make a wish, twirl in the grass, hold hands with a sibling and dance, blow a kiss, etc.
Bring a fun snack - give them chocolate chips or fruit snacks for listening.
Keep it short - 15 minutes max and end on a good note! Keep the experience positive and end it before any frustration sets in.
Here are a few photos I took of my girls in a little field by our house. I brought fruit snacks, played music on my iphone, gave them simple commands and kept it short. The girls were laughing and playing the whole time, and I cut the session short at about 10 minutes while everyone was still smiling :)
