Family Photo Session Games – Hawaii family photographers
Parents, it makes a BIG difference if you’re willing to laugh, play and go with the flow during your family photo session. I know that your idea of a photoshoot might be standing super still at a JCPenny portrait studio and then watching as your parents picked their favorite single photo to print and send out to your entire family. Those types of family photoshoots are done. And the big secret? Those gorgeous photos of kids “behaving” at my family photo sessions? I got those by playing family photo session games. Yes, games. You read that right!
Why do you need family photo session games?
The truth is – kids don’t always cooperate the way adults want or expect them to. They’re just kids, after all. In our house, when our toddler is having a tantrum or generally struggling with something and we find ourselves getting frustrated, we reframe the situation by saying “she’s not giving us a hard time. she’s having a hard time.” So if a kid is having a hard time, how can we help? By making it FUN.
The same mantra can be used during photo sessions if kids start “acting out”. I put that in quotes because more often than not, a kid isn’t really acting out. They are just struggling in a new environment meeting a new person. So… just being a kid. More than likely, they are just having a hard time, and parents, this is YOUR chance to both comfort your kid and inject some serious fun and joy into the photo session.
But kids need you to model what fun and games could look like. This means if I, your trusted photographer, asks you to pick up your toddler and throw him in the air or go run down the beach together – you try very hard not to look at me like I’m crazy! And instead, trust me and go with the flow. These family photo session games are critical to helping out a kid who is having a hard time during a session.
Things don’t always go as planned
One of these adorable little boys just wasn’t having it when it came to poses, prompts, or any kind of photo-taking asks. And you know what? Mom and dad did an incredible job of comforting them, playing with them, and keeping spirits happy and light. And the images are so joy-filled and happy because of it, don’t you think?
Parents – I know it sounds counterintuitive to run and play and MOVE during your session. But the fun photos are what allow me to earn trust and build to the more traditional shots. To put it simply – you can’t have one without the other!
Are you planning a family vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii? Let me capture your family visit to Hawaii with a stunning sunrise or sunset photo session on one of the beautiful beaches in on the island. I’d love to capture memories you’ll cherish forever!
