3 Proven Tips to Get Real Smiles from Kids
Ready to move past “cheese?”
Today we are talking specifically about getting real smiles from kids in the toddler-to- elementary age range. Babies are much easier, tweens/teens are a little more complicated, but those are both a whole different topic for another day. So, are you ready to get beyond the “cheeeeeeese” smile?
Okay, let’s go! I’ve found the best techniques for getting real smiles from kids are to interact and distract. If that sounds a little vague, don’t worry, we’ll get right into the details. When you can get the kids playing, talking, or DOING something, they’ll forget to make the frozen smile face. Then you just have to be ready when the real and genuine reactions take place. Here are a few examples that have worked wonders for me with the tens of thousands of kid photographs I’ve taken (Yep, that’s a literal number).
first things first:
1. Talk with Them!
If you have a tripod, this is a great time to use it. Get the kids set up, (seated is great, they can’t move around as much) frame the shot, and then (and this is key!) come out from behind the camera. Make eye contact, and get them talking. Great questions to get them talking about themselves include:
Activities they like/don’t like doing
Traits they like/don’t like about their siblings (tread carefully here!)
Foods they like/don’t like eating
Activities their family likes/doesn’t like doing together
I find that kids are more likely to freeze up when you ask about their “favorites,” so I use likes and dislikes instead.
As you get them talking, follow up with questions that are silly. If they say they like to swim, ask if they’ve ever met a mermaid. If they say they don’t like broccoli, ask if they’ve ever tried it on their ice cream Sunday.
Kids respond really well to us (adults, that is… using the phrase loosely here) saying things that are clearly silly or not possible. You’ll see this again below, and it’s a common theme for one reason: it works.
2. Q & A
Ask the Question. Then Ask the Follow-up
If they struggle to come up with anything when you ask open ended questions, then turn it into a Q&A game. “Do you like to swim? Do you like to read books? Do you like to run around and act crazy? Do you like schnitzel with noodles?” Once you get going, make sure to throw some silly ones in, because again: kids love that stuff!
Don’t Forget to Use Your Shutter Finger
The best moments are right before you ask another question (anticipation smiles) and right after they first react to the question (this gets the smile, but skips over any talking faces or silly faces they make on first hearing whatever your question is).
Would You Rather
Another great variation on just asking questions is a game called Which Would Rather. Give two options each time, i.e. Would you rather have to take a bath every day or never again for the rest of your life? Would you rather eat a donut or a lollipop? Would you rather be able to fly or able to swim underwater forever?
This one is really easy to adapt to different ages, (a two year old would get something like, Would you rather have a car or a ball?) and it works well to go down the line and ask each kid their own question just for them. Obviously there is a LOT of room to get silly with these questions, and the sillier the better for laughs and smiles.
Let’s Get In Touch:
3. Contact Games
Images look so much better when people are connected and touching. But kids don’t like being commanded to touch (I mean who does?). Anytime you can get a kid to do what you want by giving them an indirect instruction it’s a win.
For example, instead of saying “touch Daddy’s face,” I would say “Is Daddy’s face smooth, rough, or sticky?” Both compliance AND real smiles are much easier to come by when you don’t give commands. Here are some of my favorite games for getting kids to get in touch and interact with each other.
Simon says
This one doesn’t really need much explanation, and the simplicity of it is the beauty! Know what you want them to do before (i.e. do you want a picture of them holding hands, hugging, etc.) Start with actions that are fun or silly, then work your way to the picture-worthy ones. For example, I might say “Simon says touch your toes, Simon says touch your nose, Simon says touch your sister’s nose, Simon says hold hands (click), sit down quickly.” I like to leave off the “Simon Says” on the first command after a good picture, so you have a chance of getting them still somewhat in the pose, but also laughing. Once kids get the hang of it, this one works well to speed it up and call out the actions double time. All the laughs. Click, click, click.
Dizzy Hugs
Have them spin around in circles for a moment and when you yell “go!” have them hug each other really tight.
Red Light/Green Light
All holding hands in a line, you (or one of them!) get to call out Red Light/Green Light. One note of caution: watch out for bigger kids pulling little ones too fast. Nothing kills the mood faster than a little one doing a faceplant!
Squeeeeeze!
Give them the instruction to squeeze each other ‘til their eyeballs pop out. It’s important to frame the goal as something silly here, not just “squeeze each other.” I also like to have them stop and back up a few steps from each other (so their eyeballs can go back in), then do it again. Kids usually like this game, and in case someone’s face is hidden or something else isn’t working, it gives you another chance to get the shot.
Telephone
An oldie but a goodie, and with good reason. Again, get them settled, preferably sitting, to start. I begin by giving a kid on one end the word or phrase. If they’re your own kids or the parents are okay with gross/potty words for a laugh, feel free, just make sure you know the parents are okay with it before you go that route.
Silly words or phrases are great, and of course adjust for your age range. Three year olds do well with things like “Crazy Silly Bubbles,” while late elementary age usually like something like “I eat my boogers.” When everyone has heard the phrase, I have them all shout it out on my count. Remember to take shots all the way through the whispering, and while you are counting down. This gives you another chance for those anticipatory, something-funny’s-about-to-happen smiles. This one’s usually only good for a couple rounds, so make sure you move on before they lose interest.
Getting Natural Smiles
Prompt Cards
Want a set of prompt cards with my top favorite games and prompts? Enter your email below and I’ll send you a copy to print your own prompt cards. You can print them on any 3.5×5 cards (or paper) and have them right in your pocket next time you pull your camera out. Let’s get smiling!
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