Is it possible to survive taking pictures of an entire family? To not become a stressed-out, frenzied mess trying to capture a picture of the children you will actually like?
I’m asking for a friend.
When our first born was 1, a photographer took candid family shots in our home. With little effort, she captured an award winning photo. Our cherub beamed at the camera with one hand on me, and the other touching his daddy. That was the last easy photo shoot of our lives.
With four boys, successfully taking a family picture makes piggybacking a porcupine look breezy.
Based upon my extensive experience, I offer a few suggestions to help you create the best possible pictures of your children.
Choose a High-Speed Setting
Are your pictures slightly blurry? Of course they are. Children. Don’t. Stop. Moving. Before capturing a single image of your multi-child family, become fully acquainted with terms like ISO and freeze frames. Practice taking high-speed images at a sprinting event. Or watching a shooting star. If you can master these feats you may be able to photograph your children “sitting.”
Work It
Bribe. Beg. Threaten. Cry. These are the big leagues. Emotional blackmail is absolutely acceptable. Probably the best option, if I am honest.
Spend Strategically
When one of my children brought home a school picture that combined a cheesy smile with nauseated, pursed lips, I delayed any reaction. Pondering which package to order, I reviewed the company’s brochure featuring a photogenic darling. My son also noticed she was…well, perfect. I cautiously asked him if it would be okay if we ordered a set of her pictures instead. I think he understood.
Be Physically Present
If coaching from the sidelines is proving ineffective, you must be prepared to jump into the shot. This allows separation of children who fare better with as much distance as your lens will allow. Notice I am demonstrating the subtle death-grip-on-his-knee which has still not deterred said child from making kissy lips. This is where photoshop is a viable option (see below).
Make sure that your own face appears relaxed and happy. And practice directing children through clenched teeth without moving your lips. Ventriloquism training is highly recommended.
Think Outside the Box
When you are expecting your second child, do not register for diapers or nursery furniture. Register for Photoshop. Accept that having more than 1 child makes it virtually impossible to ever get both children photo-ready simultaneously.
Photoshop allows you to replace pained expressions with happy ones, bunny ears with normal hands and furrowed brows with delight. Breakthrough technology even allows your kids to be in different rooms for that heart-warming sibling shot.
Use Props
You can learn a lot from portrait studios and their use of props. But don’t begin by purchasing a cloudy background, antique rocking horse or fabric-covered boxes. Rather, collect more practical items that will ensure you capture a forever smile.
Adjust your expectations
After trying all of the aforementioned ideas, there are times you will need to adjust your expectations. Significantly.
I analyzed the picture below and simply altered my self-talk. For example:
<<I wanted to capture the squintiness of one boy’s eyes because I can pretend it was a sunny day. In my living room. On Christmas Eve. And who wouldn’t want to remember the way that another son was clapping randomly with his eyes closed. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all clapped more often? And why would I mind that the baby’s white dress shirt is pulled up to his armpits? He has a lovely belly button that I quite simply don’t photograph nearly enough.>>
I do hope these ideas will help you preserve lifelong memories.
I would love to hear what photography tips have helped you. Solidarity, parents!
To be fair, my own quest for a picture without multiple chins adds a further complication to this process. You can read about it here:
Or to feel even about yourself, check out my epic plant fail here:
For solid advice from a real photographer, I’ll include this link. Or to truly survive taking pictures, simply don’t. Hire this amazing photographer in the Greater Toronto Area from this site – her work is stunning.
Pin this to your board of parenting tips? What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
Thank you for the tips! When it was just 2 kids we always went to the “fancier” photo place in the mall. Now that there are 3 of them we go to the cheap Target studio. That way I don’t feel bad if we have to go back again for a second session. Which we did for our Christmas photo.
Now THAT is a great idea. Photo retakes for the family. Although after we have prepared for one photo session I usually promise not to make my kids do another one until my eye can at least stop twitching.
Love the tips.
It can be crazy trying to keep them still for those seconds for a picture. I love the tip on adjusting your expectations and couldn’t stop laughing with the ’emotionally blackmail’ tip..lol. You’r right though, it works!!!
I have to take about 50 pictures if I hope to get ONE of my son actually looking at the camera. Thanks for the tips!
Isn’t that the truth? And it gets exponentially worse the more kids there are. (taking pictures, I mean, not life in general). Thanks for chiming in.
Great post! That knee death grip is on point! I’ve got to up my game as my boys keeping getting older and harder to photograph. Thanks for the tips.
I used to think toddlers were tricky to photograph – ha! So cute. So wrong. I can teach you the death grip sometime – if you need back up 😉
This was great! It provided a much needed laugh this evening! Squinty eyes, random clapping and belly buttons are the things memories are made of 🙂
Happy to bring you a smile, Lindsay. Hope it was a squinty eyed grin 😉
OH my Word. Karen! I could have written this only I never managed to have my own face look relaxed and happy – I have a couple family photos that I would just dump if I had others to replace them, cause I look so stressed!!
“I cautiously asked him if it would be okay if we ordered a set of her pictures instead. I think he understood.” This started me giggling and I just haven’t stopped 🙂
And I LOVE that picture of your boys on Christmas Eve – they all have a smile on their face! SCORE BIG-TIME!
Not sure how I missed this comment Lisa – always appreciate your encouragement. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? But you have to admit that the most precious part of the Christmas picture is the belly button, no?