Kids are wild. That is simply fact. My Photoshoot’s aren’t revolved around me trying to restrain their wildness, in fact it’s about embracing it.
A photograph of a child, tight lipped and straining in an attempt to produce what it thinks is a ‘smile’. Parents spending hours before the shoot teaching them how to give their best smile. That dreaded word ‘cheese’. None of these produce photos that you’ll fall in love with. What we’ll do is something different - we’ll make the photoshoot an experience in itself, it shouldn’t be a chore to get through in order to get the final product. It should be the part of it that the kids look back on as their favourite bit. I enter into the photoshoot with the primary focus of making sure they’re happy, because quite simply if they’re not - the shoot becomes hard work.
I pretty much always suggest that:
We spend the first 10 mins just having a run around and exploring whatever area we are in.
There’ll be no hard rules.
No posing
No need to always look at the camera.
It’s brilliant because it allows the kids to feel in control, whilst also warming up to the idea of what we’re doing. It allows them to become comfortable with my presence, and get to know me. And it always allows me to capture some of the most beautiful candids straight away. If your child is adventurous and independent, great. We’ll let them run wild and free, I’ll suggest we explore the plants, pick the grass, collect some treasures - all with the intention of beautifully natural shots. If they’re a bit more timid and reluctant to let go of your hand, no bother at all. We can introduce them slowly to the concept of the photoshoot whilst keeping in the boundaries of what they’re happy with. Often even the most cautious of children warm up eventually and want to go and find a blade of grass or explore a feather floating nearby.
As the shoot goes on, often the kids get more confident. They become chatty and cheeky. WE LOVE CHEEKINESS. There’s no bad questions in my book and the more your little ones feel comfortable with chatting away to me and asking me a million questions, the easier it becomes for me to capture photos that will embody who your family is about. I’ll often ask questions myself that are about triggering a mischievous smile, hoping for a fountain of giggles. If your child is laughing, I’m doing my job right.
So what should you do?
When we get you guys involved, it’s so important to:
Adopt an easy going attitude. Of course it’s necessary to be vigilant, and there are certain times where I’ll ask you to do something specific or go and retrieve an intrepid explorer who has made it halfway across the field.
But basically we want you to relax into the idea that whatever happens, is okay. If your little one plays up or acts in ways we don’t want, I’ll often try and divert attention by moving swiftly onto another focus point or another child within the family.
We want to try and avoid a huge telling off, unless of course you deem it necessary, because we want spirits kept high and the mood to feel happy.
After nearly 6 years in this line of work and a further 3 working with children, I am fairly good at understanding them and getting them to be agreeable to the fun of the photoshoot. In the most difficult of circumstances, I’m a believer of one of the adults taking them for a swift walk around the outdoor area we are in, a breather from the task at hand and a chance to just regain calm. Another gem of a tactic is of course - The Bribe. Even the most Saint like of parents have encountered the bribe, and I’m very aware that it might be needed towards the end of the photoshoot, at which point energies may be flagging and willingness to continue is low. I advise snacks that do not create too much mess or crumbs - mini marshmallows or some small bits of banana. They’re finished quickly and can be the best for raising energy enough for those last few shots. I would always advise keeping the treats as a secret until needed, so as to avoid the kids focusing on the promise of them until needed.
Ultimately, it is my aim to make the photoshoot an enjoyable experience for you all, and throughout the photoshoot i’ll continuously be assessing how we’re doing, how moods are looking and what we have left to do in parallel with what I feel the kids can manage. After dealing with an array of children’s moods and personalities across the years, I’m yet to encounter one that meant we didn’t get any photos. Try me out with your little wild ones, we’ll make the wildest of memories.
Photos by Ruby
I’m Ruby: Buckinghamshire and London-based photographer, artist, lover of people, adorer of light, searching for those quiet, golden moments in life. Want to chat about a family photoshoot? Get in touch over on my contact page, I'd love to hear from you!
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