Kid won't sit still?

One of the challenges of photographing young kids is that they seldom sit still. Young energy is usually running on full batteries. Moving around, exploring their surroundings, is typical kid behavior. An old family Doctor once told my mom that when your kid sits quietly for a long time, that’s when you need to worry. It’s perfectly normal for kids to not sit still. They are young and everything around them is new and needs to be explored. As a photographer or parent who wants to photograph a child there are some tricks you can use to get better shots.

Three tips I've used in the past to help get an active child to sit still long enough for me to photograph them.

1st Tip

Let your child run around and when they tire themselves out, then take a picture. You will capture a side of them that seldom gets to be seen by most other people. The story behind this image is it was shot on black and white film, many years ago, after a long day at the park. After the park we went to a local pizza shop and while waiting for our pizza to arrive, I managed to get this photo of my daughter. Can you tell she was tired?

While this may not be the type of photo you are looking to create, it’s actually a very powerful image that won me a “Behind the Lens” interview on www.viewbug.com

2nd Tip

Use a small piece of clear tape around one of their little fingers to cause them to pause and examine it closely. This tip was given to me by my mom, who said that is exactly what a family photographer did to me as a baby. (Do be extra careful with this tip, not too tight and keep close supervision that the child does not take off and swallow the tape) Other safer alternatives to use could be small pieces of candy or cereal. Always keep safety in mind when dealing with small children. They love to place everything in their mouths.

3rd Tip

Add a prop to your setting, such as a favorite or new toy, or other object your child can engage with. Anything that can hold their interest to sit for a few minutes, and you don't mind being in your photo, is all you need to get some great shots. Kids love to explore and play with new things. With a little imagination just about anything can be used as a prop!

This concept can also be used for some pets. Or the pet themselves can be your prop.

Hope you enjoyed learning some of my secret tips as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you. As always I would love to be your family photographer contact me here.