Nailing the dreaded iPhone Family Photo

I know it can seem like a lost cause to hand your mom the phone and try to get a shot of everyone smiling on Christmas. When young kids are involved, that shot is NOT easy to get! Here’s what I do.

1) Before asking the closest person to take the shot, take a quick glance around the room. Your 90 year old grandmother will probably struggle with your iPhone. Your brother-in-law will take 1 shot and be done. But your 16 year old niece who spends hours on social media?….potential! Another great option is picking the person in the room who your kids find the funniest. If your iPhone photographer can get your kids to smile, your job just became a lot easier!

2) Consider asking the person taking the photo to get click-happy! You can always delete the bad shots later. If it’s someone you know well, you can even ask them to click through the crazy and not wait for everyone to be looking and smiling. (This is especially important if you’re hoping for a fun candid shot.)

3) Don’t get the kids until you’re ready to take the picture. Maybe this just applies to people with active toddlers…but you don’t want to waste that short attention span on the moment before the shot is being taken.

4) Consider holding children who are small enough for this. It’s much easier to control the photo when you have your child close!

5) Make it fun for the kids! Here are some tactics:

• The fake-out drop (When you pretend to almost-drop your baby/toddler for a laugh. Make sure YOU keep looking at the camera and smiling though!)

• Run into the shot (Anyone else have a wild 2 year old? I like to “fly” him into the shot like an airplane. The hope is that he’ll still be smiling for the moment the photo is taken. Again…make sure YOU keep looking at the camera and smiling!)

• Say something you’ll know they’ll laugh at right as the picture is being taken. “Ew! I smell stinky feet!!! yUuUuCk!!!”

• Tickles! What kid doesn’t love tickles?

• Swing your kid by the arms (if this is a game you play and they enjoy)

• Hang your kid upside down (again…assuming this is a thing your child enjoys and you feel comfortable with)

• Blow raspberries or make silly kissy noise for your baby

The photos below were taken (on my camera) by my husband, a family member, or while sitting on a tripod!

This photo was taken with a tripod. I clicked the button and then danced around and was silly with my son during my 10 second window before squatting down next to him.

This photo was about our 5th tripod shot, and my son was officially over it! So I just told my husband to look at me instead of the camera, and I adore this photo, even though Thatcher isn’t looking!

We were about 3 minutes into photo taking, and the only thing my son wanted to do was RUN, so we played together as my husband took a few action shots!

My mom took this photo. My son was absolutely REFUSING to be picked up, so I bribed him with the promise of a single m&m. Then I fake-dropped him a few times until we got this shot! His smile is genuine because he was laughing and having fun (he loves to be fake-dropped)!

I was jumping around with my son, and he was enjoying being bounced! I have technically better shots, but I sort of love this more-candid one!

Best Snacks for Photo Sessions

Perhaps you looked at that title and thought…why does it matter what snacks I bring? It DEFINITELY matters, and I’m going to tell you why!

First of all, I recommend all parents bring snacks to photo sessions with young children, but I’d advise keeping them hidden so you can use in case of emergency (Emergency = hangry meltdown, bribery to achieve a coveted shot that’s just not happening, or a quick way to dry up tears after a sibling did something not so nice). Now let’s get to the point…

The best snacks for photo sessions are:

1) Not messy

I know m&ms are supposed to melt in your mouth and not in your hand, but well…that’s a lie. Your child will cradle those m&ms in his or her warm hand until the color melts. That color will then be transferred to his (or your) white shirt. OR the chocolate will melt in his mouth as he laughs in an otherwise adorable photo. I’ll spare you the details, but it’s not cute. Pick a snack that is mess free!

2) Quick to eat

Have you ever watched a 3 year old eat a gummy bear? I have! It takes a while… and that chewing face is not the cutest in photos. So if you want to make the most of your time with me, pick snacks that are quick to chew.

3) Easy to hide

If you don’t want your child holding a colorful snack package for photos, don’t hand them one! The best option is to keep a snack in your pocket or bag and bring 1 piece out at a time as needed.

4) Good motivators for your child

You know your child best! And if goldfish crackers or teddy grahams (or another snack that follows the last 3 guidelines) just won’t cut it, bring the m&ms. We’ll make it work.

Lastly, I just want to remind you that hanger (regardless of whether it’s coming from your child or from you) is not cute in photos. And a lot of sessions happen right around meal or snack time! So plan ahead and try to make sure everyone has a full belly before we start photos :) Then your snack bag will really just be in case of emergency!

My #1 Trick to Great Photos

You’ve spent what feels like forever picking out coordinating outfits, you got everyone bathed and dressed (no easy feat!), you convinced your husband this will totally be worth the money, and well…you’re nervous it’s not going to go perfectly.

I’m going to let you in on my #1 best trick for parents. This is your ticket to great photos, so pay attention!

I want you to have fun with your kids.

Yup! That’s it. I just want you to have fun. I want you to play and laugh and let loose a little! I want you to step out of that car, take a deep breath, and forget about any stress you may have felt wrangling your children. And I want your spouse to do the same (so make sure you text them the link to this blog right now).

I absolutely have sessions with toddlers who refused to nap, babies who spit up on their new outfit, husbands who got home late from work, and 4 year olds who just aren’t sure they want to trust the lady with the camera yet. What makes ALL the difference is how you, the parent, approach the photo session. There’s nothing that kills the moment faster than a stressed out parent. Are you gonna let yourself have fun?

A mom and a dad willing to be silly and have fun with their kids turns into magic in photos! Your kids will respond to your mood, and everyone will show true joy in their smiles. So please please please, give it a try!