do your kids cooperate with photos?

I was all excited yesterday because we were doing our holiday photo shoot with the whole family. DH was supposed to meet us there, but medicine won again, and he was 20 mins late.

By the time DH got there, DS#1 was a mess. He is going through a terribly shy phase. (We were worried about DD#1, which is why we signed them up for gymnastics, but she's doing fantastic. DS#1 is the one having trouble now.) He hid behind the props and couldn't be coaxed out, not with any amount of playfulness. When DH arrived, DS#1 burst into tears. So much for photos.

We decided to get individual shots of the other kids, and go back on Saturday to try again with DS. After the shoot, we went out for ice cream, which we had promised to any kid who smiled for the camera. DS didn't get ice cream. He knows why, and he has promised with great energy that he will sit on the props and smile next time. We practiced with my camera this morning, and he did well. But it's when there's someone unfamiliar in the room that he has trouble.

His little cousin (same age) immediately smiles every time he sees a camera. *sigh*

How do your kids do for photos? Do you do anything to help them prepare?

[peggyfromwastate]

How old is he? My son Luke went through similar challenges from about age 2-5 or so. When he smiles he looks great. I was amazed when the preschool got him to actually sit for a picture at age 3. True, he covered his mouth for the photo, but it was the first picture I had of him in a portrait setting since 18 months, so I was thrilled.

He just grew out of it. I didn't really try to do anything or force him to do photos. Sounds like you have a good plan- and maybe if your DH gets there on time you can just get the family picture done and if your son cooperates for that, give him the ice cream... If he wants an individual shot, great!

Good luck. It's hard with shy kids.

[SoonerTexan]

He hid behind the props and couldn't be coaxed out, not with any amount of playfulness.

I had the same problem with my husband when we took ours on Wednesday. Does that count?

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I had the same problem with my husband when we took ours on Wednesday. Does that count?

I'm right there with you - and I doubt we're alone!

[Pollyanna]

My kids were not great about pictures. I am always amazed at these people who take their kids for monthly or yearly pics. Would have never happened with ours unless you wanted ones with lots of tears. They were much better at doing casual snap shots. If he's crying in the pic then he's crying, it's a snapshot of your family at that time in your lives. I know when you are paying for it you want everyone to look perfect. I would suggest that you get to the location after your hubby has arrived so you are not waiting for him and you can get the pics started once you arrive. Good luck!!

[Deebs]

DS gets totally overwhelmed at a photo studio. I have learned to train the photographer, not him. For our Christmas card two years ago, we have a beautiful pic of DD reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to her brother. I have pics of him running around with a football, crawling into or out of photos, and pretty much just being himself. If you (and the photog) can get over a traditional picture, you may wind up with a totally crazy, natural, beautiful picture of your family. In many other instances, bribery works for us, too

[alison]

My dh does our photos, but we are realizing that we don't have any of the three of us, because he's been doing them all along. We went to a photo studio a few weeks ago, they posed us in some horribly unnatural position, and poof! We've now got a portrait of the three of us looking really odd. I'm smiling, but have crazy eyes. Dh is wearing sweater that clashes against the background, and dd has a stunned look on her face.

We got an electronic copy of the photos and dh has been photoshopping pimples and boogers out of them.

[MrsK]

BabyK is awesome at photos. He even stalks the photographers at other kids' birthday parties. It may just be is personality but this is what we do. First of all, my husband's family is insane about pictures. You cannot even go out to Red Lobster without them taking tons of pics. I hate it. MIL has no idea why I wouldn't want to take pictures even if I've been sick in bed for a week and haven't bathed in days. But BabyK has endured it since birth so its no big deal for him. For portraits, we have the photographer come to us. We schedule the pictures early in the day -- 9am on Sunday -- so he is well-rested. She and I work out our gameplan before she comes so we don't have to spend a lot of time selecting props, switching backgrounds, or posing him. I dress him while she's setting up her lights. We always start him off taking pictures with Mr. Bear. It started as a 'watch me grow' thing but now Mr. Bear is sort of his photo buddy and it makes him feel comfortable. She takes a lot of pictures rapidly but all we really need is one really good picture. We take breaks and we quit when he's done. Sometimes we get 20 minutes, sometimes he'll take photos for hours and let us change his clothes 4 times. Of course, once he's 3, he could rebel.

[SuzySunshine]

This is why I pay good money for my photographer - she's great with the kids and takes the time to get great photos. Our session in early November was a JOKE! I was positive that A was going to be a handful and R was going to be easy and it ended up being exactly the opposite yet B still got amazing photos of both of them and several great family photos.

[DCJenn]

We're having our pictures taken tomorrow and they will be 1) outside and 2) dude is allowed to bring a favorite toy and 3) the photographer is also a mom of two AND her daughter went to Crunchy School and now the elementary school with Nikolai so he knows her.

I can't do studio pictures because I can't relax enough to not feel forced. My best friend's father was my wedding photographer and I'm convinced that's why they turned out well.

Jenn

[ides]

We haven't done any photo shoots. We just take lots of pics at home. Right now O is ok with photos & smiles nicely. I've never liked the whole dress up & pose stifly in front of an ugly background. When I was 10 & horribly awkard my parents had us go for a group photo. The awkard awful photo is forever in my parents family room for the world to see. It.just.won't.die.

How old is he?

He's three. Unfortunately, DH won't be there Saturday. We'll have to send out a card with four individual pictures, and DH & I won't be in them.

We were trying for family pics partly at the request of MIL. I tried to explain that this is what happens, so now I feel passive-aggressively justified. But I sort of wanted a shot of all of us for myself anyway, and I know these pictures mean a lot to her right now.

We're going to a cheapo place. I think next year it might be time to invest in someone who will come to us. Still... maybe we'll try bringing toys or a Christmas book. The little brown leaves at the studio were a hit with the girls at least.

We got an electronic copy of the photos and dh has been photoshopping pimples and boogers out of them.

I had the same problem with my husband when we took ours on Wednesday. Does that count?

I can always count on you all to crack me up! LOL

[peggyfromwastate]

3 was about the peak of Luke's anxiety about the pictures. By age 4 he was able to sit there and smile. It was awkward and scary- especially being posed alone- but he did it. I had more success at the last photo shoot (he was 5) when we started off with sibling shots as a group, and the kids did goofy picutres like holdiing Luke upside down- each kid holding a leg. Luke was all smiles after this goofy pose. I would not have tried anything like that at 3 though. We just didn't do photos especially in the studio.

[HouseofWool]

One year my mom wanted pics of all of the grand kids together (there were 4 at the time). My sister's youngest REFUSED to cooperate. It was so stressful at the time. She (my niece - not my sister) was crying in every picture. The only one that you didn't see the tears was the shot of all of the kids facing the back of the studio! My sister was so pissed that day but now, we all love the pictures of her crying. While I don't want to advocate forcing kids to do something that scares them, the pictures are very sweet in retrospect.

kris

[Pollyanna]

Bummer that your hubby can't be there. Good luck with the photo, hopefully he will do better now that he knows what to expect and maybe you can get the shot before he realizes he's scared. Hang in there

Small hijack: my mom wants a picture of our family so she can put it in HER Christmas cards.