Look who’s posing!

Get comfortable making silly faces or funny noises to get children to laugh and open up.

Some of the most aww-inducing photos are also the hardest to capture. I’m talking about those oh-so-adorable photos of babies and kids we all love to take. But somehow, we can’t seem to get that perfect shot because our subjects are too busy running around, pouting, refusing to smile or smiling like a deer caught in the headlights. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to get some great memories of your little ones.

Timing is everything

What do toddlers have in common with high-fashion models? Well I’ve noticed that they both tend to throw tantrums unless they’re well rested and fed before a shoot. Schedule your shoot around your subject’s naptime, after their snacks, preferably. You obviously can’t always predict their tantrums, but chances are you’ll get better photos when they’re in a better mood.

Get down to their level

If you want to capture a shot from a toddler’s perspective, then you need to go down on your hands and knees – literally. When you lay a baby down on its tummy and you get on your tummy yourself and shoot, the results will be far better than shooting them from above. Crouch down, get on your knees, lie flat on the floor – do whatever it takes to get the perfect photo.

Prepare to play

Instead of a forced smile or fake reaction to cheese, wouldn’t it be better to capture your child’s genuine joyful expression? Children are happiest when they’re playing, and more so, when you play with them. So, get comfortable making silly faces or funny noises, get them to laugh and open up. Singing songs or even doing a silly dance could help.

Talk to them

This is a really great tip for slightly older kids. You can make them more comfortable in front of the camera by asking them questions regarding themselves, like who their favourite super hero or best friend is. After a while, they will loosen up and you’ll get some genuine expressions. For younger kids, you can get some lovely, thoughtful expressions by asking them to think about something in particular, like what clouds are made of or what dogs think about all day.

Smiling isn’t everything

Instead of trying to make a child look straight into the camera and smile the entire session, why not capture some of their myriad expressions? Don’t direct them the entire shoot with instructions like ‘look straight’, ‘sit up’ or ‘smile’. Let them wander around, look away and even explore. You’ll get a much more authentic image this way.

Follow their cue

The most important tip – take cues from your subject’s body language. If a child is feeling uncomfortable and getting upset or not enjoying himself, it’s better to put the camera away and try another day. After all, you wouldn’t like it if a camera was shoved in your face when you weren’t feeling up to it, would you? Like they say, looking good on camera is no child’s play.