Say NO To "Say Cheese!"

This post is not a proclamation to parents to wean them off telling their children to say "cheeese!" for portraits, although in hindsight I think we can all agree that when kids have to consciously run their "smile file" it's going to be a pre-processed robot grin. If not that, then a smirk or grimace or downright frown. This post shares my own intrigue into child psyche, and observations on how to really snag great smiles out of them.

After formal portraits of these sisters I had them roll in the grass for a while

Lo and behold, kids don't really like doing what parents tell them, do they? It's no different for portraits. Most kids dislike the chore. The key from my angle as a photographer is to make them feel like they're playing, not like doing a chore. I normally take a few "standard" shots of children to figure their chemistry before finding out what intrigues them playfully.

A note to parents: Once formal shots are taken in all the pretty clothes, let them play. Let them roll around in the grass, let them touch a pile of dirt, let them pick dandelions and throw them all over the place. The majority of my shoots with children of any age involves simply playing with them, and they usually get a kick out of it. I bring bubbles or balloons, or encourage parents to bring a mini birthday cake for first-birthday smashing reenactment. All my children's portraits are done outside because I've yet to see a kid who doesn't love being outdoors, and children so love to interact with nature. It's a lost wonder I suppose.

Although this cute little ring bearer had an adorable frown, he only smiled when I told him not to... and then he got embarrassed about it! The above range of emotions happened within about a minute. Kids are bipolar, true story.

What parents unknowingly love is a laughing-his-head-off type shot of their child, not a constipated Olan Mills smile forgery. They want to see a punch of emotion. It's quite hilarious to learn on site what sorts of invented smiles kids have come up with after years of being trained on "say cheese!" Some have perfected the Sarcasm of Smile so well they actually start making terrible faces at me, assisted by fingers pulling mouths down and such *eye roll*.

Every baby has the "extremely entertained by something" face. Often with tongue hanging out. He was laughing at bubbles.

Toddlers and babies are up to their own wills. They want to be independent, so let them explore and interact with things. Don't be discouraged when a 2 year old wants to keep bolting away from the chair you want her to sit in. Smiles are optional for babies. Drooly dropped mouths of wonder are just as priceless as huge crazy grins. Some kids smile when you tell them not to and some kids need a round of applause to get them clapping and laughing. These tactics are short lived because young kids have very short attention spans.

Heck, I have a very short attention span. Next toy! Let's run this way! Punch my balloon! Smack my hand! Pop those bubbles! Kick your shadow! If they're not doing something different all the time, I'll get bored too!