Friday, May 27, 2011

10 photo tips on how to get a toddler to smile.

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So the other day I took Wyatt out to play at the local train station but little did he know that it was my secret plan to turn this "fun time" into a mini session.
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I take a billion photos of Wyatt but I never take ones that I can give out to family and hang on my walls (well some of the others I would hang on my walls but you know what I mean right?) So after a looong nap and a goood lunch we headed off to the train station.
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Wyatt was all smiles until I pointed my camera in his face.
"ugh mom no camera!!"
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Which I don't blame him because who wants a camera in their face 24/7
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so I had to use my tricks...
But first the key word is PATIENTS PATIENTS PATIENTS...
  1. Talk to him about what he did that day or the day before.
  2. Talk about his favorite show/toy/color etc.
  3. Sing embarrassing songs
  4. Make silly faces at him
  5. pick your nose to get a laugh (seriously works every time.)
  6. look him in the face while your talking to him but keep snapping photos this way he thinks your not taking pictures.
  7. Put him on top of things so he's "super tall" or let him hold a rock or something else.
  8. let him explore and snap candid photos.
  9. have a couple of time outs and just play with him
  10. when all else fails pay $1 per smile. (but then you will have to take photos of the dollar "Sheesh mom."- rolls his eyes)
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Come back later this week to see more photos from Wyatt's Mini session as well as some before/afters of those photos... Also leave comments on what you do to get your kid to smile.
Never can go wrong with more tips! :)

19 comments:

  1. Oh my, Wyatt is so photogenic. And a cutie. Great photos all worth a place on the wall.

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  2. Wow...you did it!! Those were some incredible shots of him.

    I'm going to remember those tips today when I'm with my grandchildren.

    They are getting weary of my camera too.

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  3. You did such a good job! WOW! I stopped asking kids to look at me and smile. I try to catch candid moments and then I force those regular pictures on my friends and family : ) Goodbye cheesey smiles!

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  4. Terrific photo work... Happy Friday!!

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  5. He is such a cutie! And great tips. I like candids the best, for whatever reason posed photos just don't resonate with me.

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  6. All sounds like good tips to me! And it looks like it paid off!

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  7. He is soo cute, and great tips :)

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  8. You should add in there that it's a good tip to have an adorably sweet child to photograph... That never hurts. :)

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  9. I love these pics, they're really great! I especially love the first one--did you use an action on that? or any special editing methods? I really like the processing!

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  10. Soo cute!! Love your processing too...seems like such a great setting!

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  11. What fun photos. I play peek-a-boo from behind the camera. It usually works pretty well.

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  12. gorgeous photos! What a handsome little man he is! I am stopping by from Show Off Your Shot!

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  13. Fun photos! My youngest son would be all smiles just to be on a train! :)

    Seriously, I tell jokes, threaten, cajole, beg, bribe, whatever it takes to get a smile. :)

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  14. I was totally wondering how you got him to cooperate so well all the time--I shall never again underestimate the power of bribery! (Also, a photographer friend told me her trick with kids is to tell them a bug lives in her camera and if they look really close they can see it's wings move, which is the shutter opening and closing. Apparently it works pretty well.)

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  15. More amazing images of your Wyatt ... love these!! He looks like he was having a great time, and I have to say, you are good!! Love the editing, as well, and thanks so much for the tips! I've always loved working with children, and these will help even more! You have a great weekend! :)

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  16. You won Fabulous Friday Audrey! Congrats!

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  17. gorgeous photos! What a handsome little man he is! I am stopping by from Show Off Your Shot!

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  18. I love these pics, they're really great! I especially love the first one--did you use an action on that? or any special editing methods? I really like the processing!

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