Tips for getting good photos of kids

Lacy Gordon- Mom & Entrepreneur

After receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Columbia College in 2006, I have photographed people all over the world- people, weddings, events, animals, you name it. I now have 2 daughters (aged 1.5 and 4.) And one of the biggest challenges I’ve had as a photographer is photographing my own kids. Over a few years I’ve learned some tips that have helped make this a more pleasant experience (for everyone involved!) I’m very aware of how often Moms are the ones capturing the special moments rather than getting in the frame, too. I use that experience to better capture those family shoots.

Here are some tips to assure your photos are family perfection.

Lower the pressure

Kids sense when we really, really, really want them to do something and they likely will not cooperate if so. Lower the pressure and expectation by being open to how the shoot will go- accepting that whatever the photographer captures is real life and even if someone is screaming or crying- you’ll look back on the photos and be grateful to capture a day in the life of that short and sweet time when they were little.

Have fun

This may sound obvious. But the best way to get naturally beautiful pictures with kids it to actually have fun with them. Ask a child to smile for a picture and they probably won’t. Tickle them or spin them around, making jokes and having fun yourself is the best way to get them to smile, and for the whole family to enjoy the photo shoot, by making them forget it’s a photo shoot

Don’t forget to get photos of yourself with your kids.

Ask a spouse, friend or even a stranger if you’re comfortable with it to take pictures of you and your kids together, even if it’s just one. It’s also usually a pretty worthwhile investment to hire a photographer to capture you with your kids and family. You will most likely never regret spending that money

Go with the flow.

We may have a very specific vision of how we want our family photos to turn out- maybe that vision includes everyone looking at the camera and smiling. Embrace what natural elements pop up that might change how you envision the photos. Maybe you hoped for a sunny day and it’s raining? The rain might make for some pretty epic and interesting pictures if you embrace it and let your kids run around and jump in puddles. Some of the best photo-shoots I have had for clients included elements we didn’t predict. If we let it, it could have ruined the mood or the photos, but if you go with it, it can actually add some really interesting and fun candid moments to your photo shoot.

Be mindful of the time of day

A well-rested kid is much more likely to cooperate than a cranky sleep kid. Early mornings have great lighting and everyone (hopefully) is well rested.

Don’t expect it to last too long.

Keep it short and sweet to prevent burn out from everyone involved in the photo shoot.

Plan something fun that everyone can look forward to when the shoot is over

Maybe going to get ice cream, a movie, whatever might be fun for your kids to look forward to.

About The Author

Lacy Gordon is a Mom and photographer at Photostreamkc. Motherhood helps her better navigate the challenges of photographing little ones in family photo shoots, and also fuels her passion for capturing special moments, especially candid moments that include Moms. You can find her here.