Often the kids just have to sit down and look cute and will leave the rest to their parents and the photographer. It works most of the time, but some kids might be a little reluctant to do this portrait-thing. A great way to get their attention is to involve them even before they come. I often tell the parents, that some photos are reserved for the kids to decide the style, and that they should bring some of their own stuff. Some of the things that mean something to them. Toys, sports gear, an outfit that they think will look really cool, and even pets. It’s a great way to make them relax in the studio and will give you something to talk about. This is also a challenge for you – the photographer – to do something out of the ordinary and learn something new.
When they bring their ugly (photographically speaking) soccer outfit, or they want to look like a badass streetboy or a princess in pink, you have to play along and experiment with your skills in lighting, poses and expressions. This is actually the funniest part of child portraiture – making photos you haven’t done a thousand times before. I have included a few in the album below. And don’t worry too much about the photos being far away from your usual style and maybe even crap. They probably won’t go anywhere else than the inside of the child’s room. But you will be rewarded with their complete attention and cooperation for the rest of the shoot.
