This post could have a thousand subtitles, such as:
It’s okay to photograph your subjects not smiling.
It’s okay to photograph the back of your subjects’ heads.
It’s okay to photograph your subject looking off camera.
Heck, it’s even okay to photograph your subjects with their eyes closed.
Now that we know how to work our cameras, resist the urge to ever ever ever tell someone, “Smile and say cheese!” And teach your clients that, too – especially well-meaning parents of toddlers. They are known to shout, “Smile!” at their kids while you try to capture natural-looking expressions.
Untrain your child to smile at cameras. Yes, really. Untrain them.
The results are sooo worth it!
I agree with you completely! I would love some tips on how to get them NOT to say “cheese.” I took some photos of a friends’ family last week and the first thing I said was “DON’T say ‘cheese’.” We came up with a few alternates. But what did they say nearly every time? Yeah. The dreaded cheese. Old habits are hard to break.
My granddaughter has taught me this lesson well in her first 15 months of life. Mercy, that child NEVER looks at my camera. (Until this week when she was in the tub and silly.) I love the shots I’ve gotten of her studying something with her serious looks, though. It’s who she is and I love it.
Do you have ant tips for making subjects feel relaxed enough to not do it out if habit?
Set the tone at the beginning. Take an extra few minutes just chatting and getting to know the subjects. Get the kids on your side… or rather let them know you’re on their side. I try to be conversational and relaxed so they will be, too.
I never let them have enough quiet time to think to say cheese. I chatter at them the whole time, and ask silly questions. “Do you like to eat dinosaurs??” “How about ice cream?” “You do? Me too. My favorite kind of ice cream is tuna fish! What?! You don’t like tuna fish ice cream??? Well, what kind of ice cream do you like?”
Kids are usually mirrors – they will reflect the kind of mood or tone set for the occasion. The exception to this, of course, is hungry kids and tired kids. I make sure young children stick to their usual feeding and nap times. I always get worried when parents show up and say, we had to wake him up, or she hasn’t napped yet today.
The tough part is the parents who want to shout, “SMIIIIIILE!” off camera to their kids. This immediately deflates my work. usually it takes giving mom a job. “Here mom, hold the reflector, Try not to give them any instructions from over here on the side, because they will look over to you instead of at the camera.”
Since parents typically want photos, at least some, with them looking toward the camera, putting them off to the side may help redirect the parents to not interject.
Mostly, I try to be empathetic. I know it’s a lot of work to get a small child ready, dressed and there in time and looking good. It can be stressful. I try to make it easy on them from there on out. I know it’s part of my job to make everyone feel at ease, esp if the kids felt mom or dad’s stress on getting them dressed, ready and on time.
Awesome! Thanks for the tips!
thank you really, this helps a lot!!!
This is funny because I feel like I’m constantly saying “Don’t smile! Go back to what you were doing!”. I love candid shots that capture the moment, not the “cheese!”. Unless, of course, we’re doing a “we were here!” moment and then I need smiles all ’round.
I have one client I do every year and their children are the frozen deer in front of my lens. I get them talking and distracted by something else to find their “true” smiles. Once I brought my kids {their best friends} to try and loosen them up.
And funny… on my 365 photo today I wrote “smile and say fromage” http://knit1kids4.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/365-293-3/
New to your blog…
First your photos are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
I cannot tell you how much I am loving your posts. These are awesome tips. THank you so much for taking the time to post. I have learned a ton already!!!!
Great post and excellent insight. I love that first picture — the lighting is beautiful!
Thanks Darcy!
I’m learning this lesson slowly, but surely. I recently got a belly laugh out of my grand-daugther and oh my it was priceless.
I love that shot of your boys! I use to dress my boys alike for pictures. And now I’m doing the same thing with my granddaugthers.
I’ve really been enjoying your series! Thanks so very, very much!!