Ten Tips for Turning a Kid's Photo Session into Child's Play

Everyone knows you have to be on your best behavior when parents are around. If you can get the parents in a place where the kids won't see them so they won't feel pressured to smile because mom or dad are telling them to, you will probably get a more relaxed and engaging subject. If kids are afraid to be without mom or dad, set them up in the room with some reading material or something to do so that they are present, but engaged in something other than the shoot so the kid's attention can be with you.

2. Be Ready.

Cute kid moments go by in a blink and are often unrepeatable. Get it while you can, or you may miss it completely. If that means setting up your auto focus or auto iris (something I rarely do) then do it. Better to catch the moment and loose a little of your tight control over settings, then to miss getting that shot.

3. Give Them All Your Attention.

Everyone loves attention. You can make a kid feel special by simply asking a few questions while you're shooting. Just a glance from behind the camera lens to make eye contact every now and then to let them know you are listening, will make a huge difference.

4. Get Dirty.

Go outside and roll around in the dirt. Kids love to play outside, so let them. Get permission and wait till the end of the shoot. I don't know what it is about dirt that makes kids laugh so much, but there's some kind of magic there, especially for boys.

5. Play a Game.

Children love to play. If you're willing to be silly and play with them, they're more likely to open up and have a genuinely good time. Then it's up to you to capture it. Red light green light is a good one to capture some action.

6. Shoot From the Hip.

If you're not ready and the moment is happening, just point the camera in the right direction, shoot it and hope for the best. Sometimes it will be.

7. Show Them Your Work.

If you have a digital camera and you just got a great shot. Flip the camera around and show them. You may find they are more confident, once they've seen what you're doing. They may want to see more of what you're shooting, then you've got them. Ask them to spin around in a circle first, or do something you've been wanting to try then show them what you've shot.

8. Play Dress Up.

Kids love costumes, let them choose what they want to wear: parent's clothes, their favorite Halloween costume, whatever, inevitably they'll look cute in it.

9. Keep Shooting.

When kids get tired or bored they can whine and cry better than anybody. Don't stop. Just keep shooting. You'll be amazed at what you can get when you think there's nothing else to be gotten.

10. Be Patient.

Sometimes no matter what you do, nothing is working out well. You can't get the expression you want. There's no life to the photos...just wait. You might have to wait a long time. You might have to wait until another day. You might have to wait until the kid falls asleep. When nothing else works, patience will.