How to Photograph an Uncooperative Toddler
Babies, toddlers, kids and even teenagers - they don’t always want to do what we need them to do. This can sometimes mean not wanting to smile when we would really like them too.Just for that one photo, plleeeeaaaasee.
You want them to sit still for a photo - they want to crawl or run away. If you have multiple children one smiles when the other doesn’t. Someone needs a wee, someones hungry (and that’s not always just the children!)
It’s not unusual, they won’t be the first and they certainly won’t be the last.
All family photographers will be totally used to this, specially as most will be parents themselves.
Read to the end and see my example with my little one.
Here are a few ways to help get the smile shining.
What makes them laugh - as I always say to all my parents, you do what you need to behind me to get them smiling, I can’t see and I won’t judge. As a family photographer I will then pick up on what works best, help join in and offer lots of encouragement too. Making a child laugh is also what gives the most natural, authentic smile too.
2. What holds their attention - for little ones it’s important to get and hold their attention long enough for photos. Does a certain toy always get their attention, a song, a funny noise or sometimes just talking to them and having a silly conversation.
3. Make it a game or a challenge - toddlers and young children particularly love this, ‘I bet you can/can’t do …..’, ‘who wants to have their photos done first?’, ’who can give the biggest smile’, ‘will mummy or daddy make you laugh first’.
4. Lots of positive praise - this not only gives them a great confidence boost but you can also see their smiles get bigger and more natural as they relax into the photoshoot too when they get this type of praise.
5. Contain them - for crawling babies and active toddlers and children sometimes they need containing just long enough to get the photos we’d like. For babies this could be in a box or bowl (cute and decorative of course) and toddles and young children on a chair or even just a rug. A place they know they need to be, feel comfortable and a little bit special can often do the trick.
6. Bubbles! - these can either be a great help or a hinderance so be prepared for both scenarios. some little ones will stay still, pop the bubbles and have great fun or they may still pop the bubbles and have great fun but get more fidgety then when they started. It can be a risky one but bubble photos always look so fun and are a way to let their natural smile and personality shine through.
7. A favourite toy or teddy - let them hold it, play peak a boo, make it do silly things or get it to have it’s own photograph taken first to show little one how it’s done, a great option with many possibilities to help little one feel comfortable and smiley.
8. Relax - As a parent try and stay relaxed, go with the flow, enjoy the experience and don’t get worried or stressed, it will all turn out great in the end with photos that you will love and treasure forever.
The type of photo I had in mind - but the muslins had to be in it to get him to sit down. (left photo)
He lasted a few seconds on the chair then ran away - but gladly came back on his new digger! not what I’d envisioned but love the photo as he has a big cheeky smile which is totally him. (right photo)