I know what it’s like, you’ve booked a session months in advance, spent hours selecting outfits for the family, & you have your mind set on beautiful images that will celebrate this time in your lives. As the day approaches you begin to feel pressure to have everything go perfectly. How to prepare their kids for a photoshoot is something that many parents speak to me about, so I’ve put a few tips together .

As every parent discovers, kids are their own little people with their own plans & their own ideas on how they would like things to go.

Get them on board in advance

As parents, you can gently guide & prepare your kids for what is ahead. About a week or two before the shoot, start chatting to your little one about how much fun the shoot is going to be. Encourage them to bring along their favorite stuffie to join them & watch the shoot. Bring along some treats, sticker books, or other fun things to do. Planning an outing somewhere they love to go after the shoot is an added extra ‘motivation’.

Get them involved

Treating them as their own little people is bound to make them more invested in the shoot. Involve them in the planning process, like letting them try on the clothes you have selected for them to wear & making sure they are comfortable.

Have fun

Get silly, joke & play with your kids so that they see that you are relaxed & enjoying your time in the studio.

We’ll also monitor their energy levels & take breaks when we see that they need one.

Rewards (Ok say it as it is…Bribes!)

The anticipation of receiving a little reward or treat can be all they need to spark their interest in the shoot again. (It best to pick treats that are small, & not messy or sticky – too much sugar can have the opposite effect!)

These 2 kids snack brands (Ella’s Kitchen & Kiddylicious) have some ‘healthier’ options.

Leave it to us…We’ve done this many times

We’ve been here before(many times) & we know what to do. We have many little tricks & surprises to make sure our little clients are happy. All you have to do is arrive, be ready to enjoy this time creating memories with your family & we will take care of the rest. We’re in this together!

If you would like to enquire about a shoot for your family, please see my packages here. To book a shoot, you can contact me through my contact page or mail me at nicky@nickywardphotography.co.uk.