Getting Kids to Smile Naturally for Pictures

      As a mom of  two little girls and a former elementary school teacher, I’ve been immersed in the world of childhood wonder most of my life. So, it’s no surprise children are some of my favorite people to photograph! But, I’m the first to admit, photographing kids comes with quite a few challenges! Sometimes they love having their picture taken and ham it up for the camera. Other times, it can be hard to get them to cooperate during a photo session. And, probably the biggest challenge is getting kids to smile naturally for pictures!

      If you thought it was any different for a professional family photographer, it’s not! I can’t tell you how many grimaces, forced smiles, clenched teeth grins or blank stares I have gotten. Especially from my own children. Over the years of photographing families with young children, I have learned a few tips and tricks for getting kids to smile naturally for pictures. And, whether you are a professional photographer or just a mom hoping to get better pictures of you kids, I’m hoping they may help you too!

      Getting Kids to Smile Naturally for Pictures

      BEFORE THE SESSION

      Getting natural and happy smiles from kids during pictures actually starts before the session. The more comfortable and at ease a child is, the easier it will be to get a natural smile. To young children, I am a stranger with a camera pointed at them. And that can be a little scary. Here a few tips to use before the session to overcome that hurdle.

      TELL THEM ABOUT ME BEFORE THE SESSION

      As parents start talking to their children about their upcoming family photo session, I like to ask them to also talk about me. Not necessarily as a photographer. But as a friend! Use my name. Tell them a little about me so they feel like they know me. Tell them I’m your friend and that I’m going to be helping you out by taking pictures of you. This will help to establish a level of trust with me before we even meet.

      TAKE TIME TO GREET EACH CHILD

      Once you meet the family at your session location, it is natural to start talking with mom and dad right away. And that’s great. But be sure to also take a moment to individually talk with each child. Taking these extra couple of minutes will really pay off when it is time to take pictures.

      HAVE FUN

      Children, especially young ones, tend to look to mom and dad for guidance on how to react to a new situation. If mom and dad are laughing, smiling and having fun, then their children will likely follow. I usually let moms and dads in on this little bit of information just before the session so they can be sure to let their children know how excited they are for the session and show them they are having fun during it.

      A side by side comparison showing how to get natural smiles when photographing children
      This session started with lots of blank stares. The picture on the right was taken when older sister did something funny and everyone started to laugh. Little cupid wanted to be a part of the fun!

      DURING THE SESSION

      Now that you’ve laid the groundwork for getting natural looking smiles from the kids during your photo session, let’s looks at how to get those glowing smiles during the session!

      KEEP IT MOVING

      Children are little balls of energy. They don’t stay in one place long. And their attention spans are short. So, if you want natural smiles be sure to keep things moving. Staying in one pose or location too long will create stale forced grins. This also helps if you hope to get a variety of looks during your session. I find that most children only last about 45 minutes during a family session. So by keeping it moving, you will be able to nail several different looks in that window of time.

      SING

      Children love songs! For toddlers, ask mom and dad what song they love or know well. You may want to ask this during your planning consultation to be sure you know the song. If singing isn’t your thing (I get it!) load a few songs onto your phone before the session.

      images showing child not smiling vs. a genuine smile for pictures
      The picture on the right was taken just after I started singing her favorite song.

      PLAY GAMES

      Children love playing games. And if you give them a game to play, you are sure to get natural looking smiles as you take their picture.

      If you want a more detailed dive into some tried and true games to play, take a peek at my post: favorite games to play at a family photo session.

      BE SILLY

      Children really do love to laugh. And they often find the littlest things absurdly funny. Act like a goof ball. Have over the top reactions to little things. Make silly noises.

      DON’T ASK THEM TO SAY CHEESE

      You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s always a great reminder. Children don’t really know how to smile on command. That’s why when asked, children often give a clenched tooth grin. Every child has heard the ‘say cheese’ command. And they have learned to give that forced smile in response.

      The look I get anytime I ask my daughter to say ‘cheese’. I’m not really sure who taught her that putting her nose in the air was smiling.

      I hope these tips help you get your kids to smile naturally the next time you take pictures! If you have any tips that have worked great for you, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to drop a comment below!

      XOXO

      Kristen

      Kristen Fotta Photography

       

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