How To Make Family Portraits Fun For Kids

Four Ways To Make Family Portraits Fun For Kids

Getting kids to have fun and fully participate in family portraits can be a little tricky at times 🙂 But the good thing is that there are several ways you can minimize the chances of a full on melt down. Here are four ways that you can make family portraits fun for kids!

Build Up The Excitement Before The Session

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One of the most important things to do starts several days before the session even begins. I recommend mentioning that everyone is going to the park to take pictures and to have fun. If your kids see that you are excited about the session, they will most likely be too.

Give Them An Incentive

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Another really great way to make family portraits fun for kids is to provide them with an incentive. You will know what works best for your child, but there are a couple of ways to approach the incentive. One way is to promise them something fun after the session. For example, going to ice cream or allowing them to play at the playground when the session ends. Another way is to provide them with incremental incentives throughout the session. For example, a couple fruit snacks after each of the great smiles that they give.

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One thing to avoid is giving them the entire incentive all at once 😉 Once they receive it, they may not want to continue on with the session. And ABSOLUTELY do not offer or give them your phone during the session 🙂 Once they are distracted by this, they will not want any part in taking portraits!

Let Kids Be Kids!

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Perhaps the best way to make family portraits fun for kids is to let them be themselves! In my experience, kids enjoy taking pictures when the focus is on just having fun and being silly 🙂 I love getting pictures of kids running, jumping, and saying things that make them smile. With this, Mom and Dad also need to be willing to have fun. I may ask you to spin them, lift them in the air. And tickling them is always a really good way to get genuine smiles!

Ask Them For Their Input

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Last but not least, getting kids involved in the session is another good way to make the session fun. Something as simple as asking them if they want to sit or stand for the next pose can make them feel important. And this can also happen before the session starts as well. Asking them what shirt they want to wear or allowing them to take a few pictures in their superhero t-shirt.

Hopefully these four tips on how to make family portraits fun for kids has been helpful. Thanks!