Child photographers

[my3peas]

I have a family that wants me to take some Christmas pictures for them. This will be the first real session that I do. I'm so nervous!

My question really relates to just the kids. What kinds of things do you say to the kiddos to get them to give you their best faces? Do you tell them to think of things that are fun (i.e "What do you want for Christmas? What's santa going to bring you?) ? With 3 kids myself, you'd think it would be easy for me to do that!

Help please!

[epoh]

How old are the kids?

[lightimages]

Anything with the "es" sound, like puppies, monkeys etc.... also try "yes" …practice in a mirror to learn when to release the shutter….

[my3peas]

Originally Posted by lightimages

Anything with the "es" sound, like puppies, monkeys etc.... also try "yes" …practice in a mirror to learn when to release the shutter….

thanks!

Originally Posted by epoh

How old are the kids?

Toddler to age 6

[epoh]

Well, my toddler and my nieces respond well to silly things (funny hats, silly pictures, etc) and bribes - generally in the form of candy or movies. Good luck!

[bondarnes]

Little ones like silly things like something falling off your head like a rubber frog that I have. The best is the quarter on the forehead, but if I show you that I would have to kill you. Those things work up until age four or five. Older kids to about ten respond to things like, "Can you say my dad has smelly feet?' Or "My Uncle Jeff wears pantyhose." The main thing is timing, because the best expression only lasts for a half second so you have to be ready...focus locked... finger on the shutter release...do your silly thing...NOW.

One last thing IF ALL ELSE FAILS GET OUT THE BUBBLES.

[Duffy Pratt]

Find out what Jill Greenberg does, and do the opposite?

http://www.paulkopeikingallery.com/a...erg/index0.htm

Duffy

[Michelle Allmon]

Find out what Jill Greenberg does, and do the opposite?

hehehehehhehe!

[Michelle Allmon]

for the older kiddos (4+) they like it when I tell them I have ants in my pants and start shaking my butt.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Michelle Allmon

for the older kiddos (4+) they like it when I tell them I have ants in my pants and start shaking my butt.

I might like to see that too.

[Michelle Allmon]

I might like to see that too.

*shake* *shake* *shake*

[Michelle Allmon]

Don, I love this quote, did you write it?

The Ark was built by amateurs, The Titanic by professionals.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Michelle Allmon

Don, I love this quote, did you write it?

Nope. I stole it from a fellow photographer in Mich., Steve Bohne (Bo-Nay). I don't know who he stole it from.

[Michelle Allmon]

Hmm. Well I might steal it from you!!

[Detonate]

I had to work with some kiddos age 1 and 2. And I found if I just loud silly noises it had them cracking up.

More specifically if I could make the 2 year old laugh, the 1 year old would copy her.

It actually started to make the parents laugh and then it hard to get them out of their super grinning faces and back to a managable smile.

Age 1 month to 1 year are the hardest for me. Once you can make them laugh, it gets easier. At least that what I've found in my very very very limited experience shooting my daughter and my friends kids.