What If My Child Is Grumpy During a Family Photo Session?
What if your child is grumpy during a family photo session? This is a big concern for many parents, and I can understand why. Our little ones are adorable but unpredictable, and you never know when things can go from amazing to terrible… sometimes in the blink of an eye!
As an experienced photographer who loves my job working with families and children, my advice would be PLEASE try not to worry! What if one of your children arrives to a session grumpy? My answer? At some point, they probably will! And that is nothing to be ashamed of! Let’s face it… getting prepared for a photo session, or anywhere at all for that matter when you have a young family, is a big production. Panicking that the baby hasn’t woken up from his nap when you’re about to leave, trying to make sure your little ones are wearing the proper clothing, making sure no one spills their fruit punch on their new shirt, and inevitably a little one deciding they need to use the potty just as you are getting into the vehicle… can add up to a lot of stress for you, which can spill over onto all other members of the family. I’ve been there! And I see other parents in that position every time I have a family photo session. So I wanted to share a few thoughts that I’ve found help our sessions run much more smoothly!
My first bit of advice to parents is… please do NOT scold or threaten your children before arriving to the photo session! Often the family will arrive and I can sense tension between a child and a parent who has told them they need to behave, and who has likely raised their voice while doing so. Trust me when I say that this is one of the worst things you can do! Is your child grumpy on the way to our session? Guess what… that’s TOTALLY normal! Sometimes dads and even moms get grumpy about photo sessions as well, HA! Anyhow, if your child is grumpy, let them have their space and try to be patient with them. My goal is to keep things fun, and usually if a child arrives in a grumpy mood, we can take photos of the willing family members first. Your little one will eventually see that you are having a good time and will want to join in on their own!
If you are worried about me judging you based on your child’s mood, please don’t! I’m a mom, and I understand that little ones have their moments! When my children were babies, they had tantrums in restaurants, churches and shopping malls just like your babies, and I understand that extra attitude is very developmentally appropriate for many of the childhood years! Part of my job is to make the session appealing so that your child soon realizes this is going to be an enjoyable time. If you scold and threaten your child, it is a sure way to guarantee a negative outcome, puffy eyes and a tear-stained face, so please let’s work together to be a team who are filled with nothing but sunshine and happiness!
In a family lifestyle session, our goal is to capture all the moments just as they are, including that sweet, grumpy little face. You may find it difficult to fathom, but you will treasure even the pouty photos many years from now! During the session, if you think your little one needs a moment away from the camera, let me know and I will carry on with the rest of the family while you snuggle and comfort your child. Almost always without fail your little one will eventually be ready to come back and join in the fun!
So please, let your worry about normal childhood behaviour slip away, and come prepared to have fun! A family lifestyle session is a record of a little piece of your everyday life, for you to cherish both now and for many years to come. The experience should be enjoyable and not filled with stress. If you are ready to book a family lifestyle session or have any other concerns about it that you’d like to discuss, I’d love to connect with you and answer any questions you may have for me!