5 Tips for Taking Natural Photos of Kids

I think my kids are adorable because, let’s be real, every parent thinks their children are stinking delicious. 🙂 So I naturally find myself wanting to capture their every eye lash, dimple and freckle all the time.

But as soon as I take out my camera or phone to capture their chubby cheek silliness, it feels like trying to capture a photo of a wild and endangered species.

While I’m certainly not a professional photographer (far from it!), I’ve found a few tricks to help me capture their natural cuteness on film.

Here are my five tips to help you take natural photos of your kids:

Don’t tell them you’re taking a photo. This may work best with younger littles who aren’t as aware of the camera, but I find that I’m able to capture my kids’ natural smiles, gestures and laughs as they play and not during a “posed” photo. As soon as I rattle off “OK, say, CHEESE!” my kids’ smiles turn into frozen grimaces like Chandler from Friends when he’s taking engagement photos with Monica. Of course, this scenario isn’t always possible, but if you’re like me and tend to carry your camera wherever you go, then your every day adventures (from the park to a stroll down the block) can turn into a photo moment.
There’s a time and place for potty talk. And when you need your littles to break out in that mega watt smile and laugh on demand for the camera, this is when it comes in handy. I’ve mentioned this before on social media, but I’m not ashamed to ask my droids for a little assistance for some guaranteed giggles when snapping photos at home: “Alexa, fart!”
Props to the props! From holiday and seasonal photos to every day snaps on my phone, my kids respond well with a simple prop. The key for my kids is to not get carried away with loads of toys or stimulation because that will totally detract from looking at the lens. A simple item like a balloon, bubbles, a pile of leaves or a leaf, small pumpkins or twinkle lights have all helped capture my kids’ pure joy on film.
Simon Says…A brief game of Simon Says guarantees silliness, natural “poses” and maintains their attention. The key is too keep the Simon Says demands to a short list and ones that don’t involve full body movements.
Keep a snack stash. I’d never attempt a photo sesh with hungry kids (or anything for that matter! #momlife). Plus, I tend to keep a favorite snack or little sweet treat on hand to enjoy right after photos, especially more involved photos like a family photo session, to help maintain those positive energy vibes.