Parents have high expectations for portrait sessions. There’s planning, organizing, coordinating, and paying involved. When the moment happens it can be unnatural to relax and have a good time. Most parents will say something along the lines of, “If you don’t smile, you’re going to be in serious trouble!” Which doesn’t typically result in a smile for grandma.
We went to Seattle this summer and I took some portraits for my very awesome friend Tara. Then I gave her husband my camera and told him to point the camera at our family (minus our son who stayed home). Not 5 minutes later I was threatening my kids.
Yes, sadly, I was threatening.
Which is why having a neutral third party with candy and an oinky pig helps a whole lot. So after all the planning is done and the expectations are high and everything falls into place, including beautiful weather, remember to smile.
Here are a few tips to help out:
If you’re a senior: Bring a friend! Having someone to make you smile or just to make you feel more comfortable can be a huge help in eliciting a genuine smile.
If you have small kids: Schedule is king! There’s no reason to throw off a child’s nap schedule so lets work around it. Also bringing a snack such as cheerios or smarties can give them something to focus on besides running in the opposite direction.
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