Objective- learning to think outside the box when it comes to photographing kids and find new ways to make them smile.

The best way to get a great picture of a child is to make them laugh.  I've talked about it before, kids can't fake a smile.  It just looks terrible.  When a new child comes to my studio I am always trying to figure out what makes that kid (at that moment) smile.  Parents know that "that thing" is often something you stumble upon.  It may be weird, gross, silly or just plain out there.  I've seen the weirdest things work.  The other day, I had a little girl in my studio (who I have photographed a handful of times) and I could not make her smile.  She was busy too and did not want to sit still.  I tried all my tricks to no avail.  Then, when it looked grim, Dad moo'ed like a cow and she fell out laughing.  Who'd have thought?!  Mooing?  That's exactly how it goes.

So, what's the thing that gets your kids/subjects going?  Sometimes it is a game of peek-a-boo...

Sometimes it is just giving them something to play with

Parents are the best asset in a session.  They tend to know the little idosynchratic noises and gestures that get their kids laughing but sometimes even they are powerless.  One of my little tricks that works a LOT is my ladder.  On a side note, I really like old ladders.  I know, it's sort of a weird thing to like but I really do like them.  If I thought Steven (my husband) wouldn't freak out, I'd collect them.  So, when a friend of mine called me and said "I found the coolest old ladder!  Do you want me to buy it for you? It's the small kind that you were looking for!" I jumped at it.  I thought it might be a cool thing to have at the studio and I was right!  It's perfect for the busy kid who can climb but can't sit still.  Sometimes it is the only thing that will get a kid to stay in one place.  It's a wonderful thing.

A week or so ago, a little girl came to my studio.  I had never met her and she was a little bit shy.  She only wanted to be on Mom's lap.  I tried everything...every puppet, every noise, every goofy trick up my sleeve!  Nothing worked!  We got close with the bubbles...

When it seemed like all hope was lost, I thought about the ladder.  Truth be told, I had thought about it earlier in the session but I thought she might be too young and that it would be too dangerous.  It's not a big ladder mind you but it is a ladder after all.

interject ladder safety tip: keep parent close by!  I have the parent stand right next to the ladder if it a younger climber and tell them to be watching.  I also have a carpet under the ladder.  My ladder is also only about waist high.

So, back to the story, what happened you say?  It worked!  She took to it right away.

The trick with the ladder is that when they get to the top, you have to be all excited, clap and cheer! "You did it!" and "Look how high you are!" and so on.  It's so cute to see them beaming at their daring accomplishment.  It looks like this:

We all love a big smile.  It's wonderful for sure and I always to try and get great smiling shots.  But wait!  the smile is only half the picture (so to speak).  When we photograph children, we should be trying to photograph them, the real "them".  Sometimes, as was true for this little one, they are a little shy.  Maybe the big smile is not always so true to their personality?  If your child or subject is a shy, reserved child then maybe what is more accurate is something like this:

This little girl was beautiful with and without a big smile.  Meet your child where they are and you will get better pictures.  So, if they need something crazy to make them laugh then do your best to deliver.  If they would rather be quiet and look at you with their big baby blues then maybe that is your more accurate shot.  When we put aside our preconceived notions of what we think our children's pictures should be like (what we want them to be like), let go of the idea of the perfect shot, look at who they really are and try and capture that, we become much better photographers.

So, go out there camera in hand and make some ridicuous noises, let them climb and be crazy!  They will usually reward you with a big smile!