Capture the Perfect Smile: 5 Tips for Successful Family Portraits Blog Introduction // Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon Family Portraits
Want to know the #1 thing I hear from clients when they inquire? “I’m really awkward in front of the camera”, “I don’t do well in front of a camera”, “I never like photos of me, please focus on the kids”, “My child is really hard to capture a smile on”, “My child can be pretty difficult for photos and we just don’t have any of them smiling” …. I can probably write a book of these inquiries and doubts and to be honest, I love the challenge.
Capturing a genuine smile from family members, especially children, can be a struggle yes, but it isn’t impossible. Whether it’s an anxiety about being in front of the camera or just not wanting to sit still, it really juts takes some planning ahead of time to ensure the photographer is prepared and knows where to focus the energy.
Here are five tips that will help you capture those perfect smiles during your next family photo session.
1. Bring something special - When I start planning a family portrait session, one of the things I do is give my new clients a questionnaire to learn more about them and see if anyone will need any additional attention. For some children who are stressed easy or who take a while to warm up to a new person, I encourage parents to let your children bring something special just for the occasion, like a favorite toy or something they love to show off. Ahead of the photo session, make sure you talk about the photo session and that the photographer can’t wait to see their special item so they know this ahead of time. This can help get them excited about the shoot and give them comfort know ahead of time what will happen. And YES, we will certainly get some of their photos with that item (no matter how dirty or worn out it is!)
2. Relax the Atmosphere - Make sure there’s a relaxed atmosphere for the shoot by bringing snacks, drinks and toys for younger children, playing games or music— anything that gets everyone laughing and feeling comfortable together as a family! This will create a natural backdrop for all those happy memories you want captured on camera.
3. Let Kids Move Around - Don’t expect them to stay still in one place for too long; let them move around! Kids love movement and letting them run around can result in beautiful candid moments that capture who they really are at this age! Give them freedom of movement while still giving direction with simple prompts like “let’s walk over here” or “let’s sit down together here” etc., so they know what is expected of them while still having fun during the shoot.
4. Find Their Motivation - Each child is different and some might need more motivation than others when it comes to taking photos. Some may need lots of praise and encouragement while others may respond better to treats like candy or ice cream afterwards as a reward for smiling beautifully throughout the shoot!
5 . Get Down On Their Level - When photographing children, I always try to get on their level physically – kneeling down if I have to – so they don't feel intimidated by an adult towering over them telling them what do do all day long (which isn't very fun). Not only will getting on their level make them more comfortable, but it'll allow me to capture some truly unique angles that will add another layer of dimension to your photos!
Taking family pictures doesn't have to be stressful; with these helpful tips you can help ensure that everyone looks great and has fun at the same time! With good preparation beforehand and finding creative ways to keep everyone engaged during the shoot, you'll end up with some beautiful family portraits that perfectly capture every smiling face in your family! And once it's all done? Treat yourself (and your kids!) to something special as a reward for getting through it all with smiles on your faces! ;)
