Fabulous Andrea Roberts shares her secrets for making friends quickly and easily with kids at a photo shoot!
How did I get little Emmet to go from pretty much hating my camera (and my guts) to grinning ear-to-ear in 6 seconds flat?
Easy- I just balanced an apple on my head. No- really. That is all I did.
My clients love un-posed lifestyle shots of their kids being kids. But they also love- and buy- pictures of their kids looking directly at the camera and smiling their best smile.
Whether you shoot nothing but children and families, or only encounter the toddler-set when they are carrying a ring down the aisle- you know that they can be challenge to photograph.
But fear not- I have few tips that are going to turn you in to a toddler-whisperer in no time.
Tip 1: It's Okay to Be a 3-Ring Circus
Jump up and down, make silly noises, balance things on your head or your lens hood. Make it so they can't look away because you are just THAT interesting.
Tip 2: Make a Mistake
Sing your ABC's backward, tell them that a duck says moo, count to 10 and mix up every number, insist that Thomas the Train is purple. Kids this age find things like this hilarious. They will be cracking up in no time.
Tip 3: I Like Candy
Never underestimate the power of a (mom- approved) bribe. I especially like smarties, because they don't leave a mess on the mouth that you will have to deal with later. To get extra mileage out of it, try taping the candy to your lens hood, and say they can have it as soon as it falls off. They won't be able to take their eyes of you. With these tricks up your sleeve, you should be able to tame even the wildest little wild thing. Now- time to practice- 5, 4, 7, 9, 1..... (Admit it, you're totally laughing. Well, at least at me- if not with me, but that is the whole idea!)
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Have a fab Photoshop tip or photographer's trick you'd like to see on the blog? E-mail Kristen@gettotallyrad.com with your article and a single 850 px wide, unwatermarked image.
How did I get little Emmet to go from pretty much hating my camera (and my guts) to grinning ear-to-ear in 6 seconds flat?
Easy- I just balanced an apple on my head. No- really. That is all I did.
My clients love un-posed lifestyle shots of their kids being kids. But they also love- and buy- pictures of their kids looking directly at the camera and smiling their best smile.
Whether you shoot nothing but children and families, or only encounter the toddler-set when they are carrying a ring down the aisle- you know that they can be challenge to photograph.
But fear not- I have few tips that are going to turn you in to a toddler-whisperer in no time.
Tip 1: It's Okay to Be a 3-Ring Circus
Jump up and down, make silly noises, balance things on your head or your lens hood. Make it so they can't look away because you are just THAT interesting.
Tip 2: Make a Mistake
Sing your ABC's backward, tell them that a duck says moo, count to 10 and mix up every number, insist that Thomas the Train is purple. Kids this age find things like this hilarious. They will be cracking up in no time.
Tip 3: I Like Candy
Never underestimate the power of a (mom- approved) bribe. I especially like smarties, because they don't leave a mess on the mouth that you will have to deal with later. To get extra mileage out of it, try taping the candy to your lens hood, and say they can have it as soon as it falls off. They won't be able to take their eyes of you. With these tricks up your sleeve, you should be able to tame even the wildest little wild thing. Now- time to practice- 5, 4, 7, 9, 1..... (Admit it, you're totally laughing. Well, at least at me- if not with me, but that is the whole idea!)
--
Have a fab Photoshop tip or photographer's trick you'd like to see on the blog? E-mail Kristen@gettotallyrad.com with your article and a single 850 px wide, unwatermarked image.
i love the smarties on taped on the lense! Thats a great idea.....thanks for sharing you expertise!
(09.22.09 @ 07:48 AM)Kick butt tips, Andrea! You rock!
(09.22.09 @ 08:15 AM)Those are great tips! Thanks for sharing!
(09.22.09 @ 09:09 AM)FAB advice Andrea!! You rock and so do your pics!
(09.22.09 @ 09:18 AM)Great tips Andrea! And I have seen Andrea in action with the messing up the ABC's and counting wrong....It worked liked a charm!!!
(09.22.09 @ 09:29 AM)What wonderful tips! :) Congrats on this artical!!!
(09.22.09 @ 09:33 AM)Great tips, Andrea! You are awesome! Congrats on this article!
(09.22.09 @ 09:44 AM)Fabulous tips. You are a rockstar girl!
(09.22.09 @ 09:44 AM)Awesome tips Andrea!!!!
(09.22.09 @ 10:06 AM)Great article Andrea!
(09.22.09 @ 10:15 AM)Thanks for the tips Andrea! these are great!
(09.22.09 @ 10:35 AM)Andrea, you ROCK!!! As a mom who LOVES Andrea's photos, I can attest that her pics are the absolute greatest, and she captures the BEST of all of the kids she photographs! Oh, and did I mention that she is SOOO good with kids?!?! :) Congrats on this blog tip!!! :)
(09.22.09 @ 11:00 AM)Great tips!! You rock!
(09.22.09 @ 11:04 AM)Great tips Andrea Thanks for sharing!
(09.22.09 @ 11:04 AM)What awesome tips Andrea! I will definitely keep those in mind for my next session. Or heck, just to use with my own kids!!
(09.22.09 @ 11:27 AM)Great tips Andrea, thanks for sharing!
(09.22.09 @ 12:33 PM)Awesome tips!!! You ROCK! :)
(09.22.09 @ 12:38 PM)Fantastic tips, can't wait to try those out! Your work is gorgeous!
(09.22.09 @ 12:47 PM)Great tips! I love the taped Smarties idea!
(09.22.09 @ 02:18 PM)Great tips, Andrea! Having seen you do the ABC's one in person - it works beautifully!
(09.22.09 @ 02:38 PM)thanks for the tips, Andrea!
(09.22.09 @ 04:12 PM)You rock Andrea! Great tips and as always great photography!
(09.22.09 @ 04:37 PM)As soon as I heard apple on the head, I thought of you Kristen! Great tips!
(09.22.09 @ 04:53 PM)I can personally attest to some of these tricks. My pouty princess was all smiles when Andrea started singing the silly ABC's. When my usual mom tricks (i.e. the candy bribe) weren't working, Andrea had them like putty in her hands :)
(09.22.09 @ 06:09 PM)Love the tips Andrea!! Awesome photos too of course!!
(09.22.09 @ 06:14 PM)These are AWESOME tips, Andrea!! Great job and CUTE pictures!!
(09.22.09 @ 06:21 PM)Seriously, some of the best tricks I've heard of for children's photography! Great pictures too!
(09.22.09 @ 06:27 PM)great tips girl!
(09.22.09 @ 09:36 PM)Awesome Andrea, thanks for the tips!
(09.23.09 @ 03:25 AM)Awesome tips, Andrea! Thanks for sharing!
(09.23.09 @ 06:16 AM)These are such great tips! Love the photos too!!
(09.23.09 @ 07:29 AM)I am laughing just thinking about all the photographers that are going to have smarties taped to their cameras. Thanks for the tips!!
(09.23.09 @ 08:14 AM)why is my darn kid the only one who is 100% uncooperative???
(09.23.09 @ 04:05 PM)I'm so easily amused, I smiled at your tips. Thanks for sharing them!
(09.23.09 @ 04:28 PM)Love the advice!! So dead on!! I totally do most of those, but taping candy to the lens hood...now that is genious!!
(09.24.09 @ 06:58 AM)These are great ideas! I'll be working on my backward ABC'S this weekend! Also, never underestimate the power of good old fashioned potty humor. I had a 7 yr old boy who was not cracking no matter what. So, when I had him focused where I wanted him I said, "Hey did you just fart?" Worked like a charm :)
(09.24.09 @ 08:10 AM)