5 Tips for Preparing Kids for A Portrait Session

You have booked a session with a great photographer and now you‘re worried about how your kids will act during the session! Take a deep breath and relax, this is going to be a great experience, with a little bit of planning you can be ready for the unexpected and mentally prepared for Plan B. Nevertheless, chances are nothing bad will happen and the shoot will go well! Here are few tips I share with my clients to prepare their kids for a family portrait session!

Feed Them

“I’m hungry”, “Can We Go Now?”, “I’m really...reeaaally...hungry” It’s amazing how embarrassing this is when you are chatting with your friends, in a deep conversation and your “Mirror Copy” is staring you in the eye and tugging at you pant leg or dress and demanding how hungry they are! As a parent I understand exactly how challenging it is when your kids are hungry but you want them to pay attention to you 😱. So in the efforts of the being a great parent we try to plan ahead and feed them not too much so resulting in sleepiness but enough so they aren’t “SOOO HUNGRY” 😉.

Bring a Second Pair of Clothes 👚👕

The inevitable happens when you do not need it too. The kids get dirty, some times things happen been in photo session that kids will need to change their clothes.

Bring their Favorite Sweet Snack as Treat 🍫🍭

Marshmallows, Lollipop, etcthis is a dirty trick but sometimes you need to bait your kids to do what you need them to do, give them a marshmallow if they smile give them candy if they’d be still, give them one chip (I’m a Dad 😂), if they behave at that moment. Sometimes a parent has to do with the parent has to do.

Bring Their Favorite Toy

All of our kids have a favorite toy and their favorite toy can be a calming factor when needed. But the secret to bringing in their own toy is they feel a part of the session with their favorite item. I know, I know, its grungy looking and probably falling apart, but that is what memories are all about! A lot of times we want our kids to do EVERYTHING we want them to do and there is “no connection” to them with the photo shoot, but when they have their own toy and you say you’re going to take a picture it they are more likely to cooperate and have fun because they feel a part of the picture with their favorite item.

Relax They will Probably Get Dirty

I know what just said, about a second change of the but that is for when you are at the point of no return with the dirtiness of your childs clothing. But in reference to a little dirt, have you heard the saying, “a little dirt didn’t hurt anyone”. It is seriously okay, sometimes your kids will get dirty, instead of flat out freaking out about it - we, as a creative photographer, can use that moment to your advantage. There is a way to mask what is dirty post session, there are workarounds to display a different side of the kid, but if all else fails just have fun with it and turn the experience into its own photo session! Nevertheless, expect a little dirt to happen when kids are a part of the picture.

I know I said 5 but here are two stellar bonuses!!

Bring Water

Sometimes hunger is disguised as thirst and some kids are actually not hungry. Always bring water, whether because it is hot or because they are thirsty/hungry, always bring water! Don’t give them too much water but enough water to keep their stomachs a little full and to keep them hydrated if it is hot outside.

Bring a Portable Potty

This has to be the best travel hack we have found since traveling with kids. Always keep a porta potty, if you are out and about, there is nothing like being out in the open field or at a park and a good distance to find the perfect shoot location and your child says, ”I have to potty”. That is the most horrifying feeling ever! You are nowhere near a restaurant or toilet when your child has to potty. Always bring a little porta potty and that way your child can use the potty and continue with the shoot. If all else fails go by the tree! (That’s a Dad for you! 😂).

I hope you enjoyed this list! Please comment if this was helpful! Let me know about tour favorite props you would bring to a shoot!