When children will not smile for the camera

Almost every parent who books a session tells us, a little nervously, that their child will not cooperate. It is the most common worry we hear, and it is rarely a problem in the end.

Shy children need time. We do not point a camera at a child in the first ten minutes. Farhan sits on the floor, shows them the camera, lets them press the shutter and look at the photo of their parent on the screen. Most children warm up once the camera becomes a toy rather than a stranger. If a child wants to stay in a parent’s lap for the first half, that is fine; some of our gentlest frames come from exactly that.

Restless children need movement. We play simple games, such as running to a parent and jumping into their arms, or whispering a secret into a grandfather’s ear, and photograph the moments between. A real laugh at a silly sound looks better than a forced “cheese”. With teenagers, we ask for their opinion on the frame and treat them as part of the team, not a subject.

Parents can help most by staying relaxed. Please do not tell children to smile, and do not scold them during the session; it shows on everyone’s faces. Feed them before coming, bring a favourite toy and plan the session around naps. If the day goes badly because a child is unwell or overtired, we can move the session once without charge.