The number one tip to getting natural smiles

Kiddies are completely unpredictable, even the older ones that we expect to sit and smile sweetly. They can be so adorable and easy going and laughing uncontrollably one minute, and the next minute, turn that charm off completely. They will typically smile for you all day long until you put them in front of a camera, then they freeze up like a deer in headlights. We want to get the best smiles we can. Over the years I have learnt what gets those beautiful happy smiles and what most definitely does not. Here is my number one tip and it is not what you would expect.

Do not try to get your child's attention or tell them to smile (unless I ask you to)

Babies and young children are often overwhelmed when they walk into my studio space. It is large and full of all kinds of interesting things. I am also a complete stranger. So the best thing to do is to sit on the floor directly behind me and say nothing. I need a chance to build a rapport with your baby or young child and get those natural smiles where they look straight into the camera.

Picture this scenario:

You're a small kiddo and have just walked into a very big, completely new room. A lady with a big black camera is sitting facing you and pointing it at you. And then she is talking to you and making faces. But mom and dad are also frantically trying to get your attention. Mom is on one side of the room and dad is on the other. 

Then because you are just sitting there staring wide eyed at everyone Ouma and Oupa also start calling your name and trying to get your attention. Mom then starts clapping her hands above her head and dad starts promising ice cream. Where on earth do you look and is there any reason to smile? Everyone just looks crazy and making a heck of a noise!

This is the most common scenario I see and 100% of the time ends in wide eyed stares and eventually tears.

One of the first photographs of my session with this little man. He was still warming up to me and getting comfortable.

I need to get your beautiful baby or young child to smile for real at something I say or do. The calmer you are the better things will go. So taking a seat right behind me on the floor, keeping a smile on your face and not saying anything gives me the opportunity to connect with your little one and a much better chance of getting those amazing smiles and laughs.

Once he had warmed up and felt safe with me he was all smiles and happiness.

Here's to a great session!

Celebrating the small things in life

My little man is eight months old and I just adore him. We've had an eventful month. He has five teeth that we all worked very hard for. He is rather a dramatic little man and kept us up many, many nights. He is also crawling and standing up against anything that will take his weight...my leg is the best.

I need sleep but I would not change our decision to adopt for the world.

I have finally figured out how to care for David's hair and for a white girl I think I've done a pretty good job. My first two attempts were somewhat frightening and lumpy in the extreme.

Have a great weekend!

Mother and Daughters Photo Session

Now this family is just a bundle of laughs…a whole bunch of Type 1 Bright, Animated ladies together and you just have fun, fun, fun.

I must say that I think the little guy is not Type 1 because he just passed out part way through the session despite all the giggling, face pulling and laughter.

There is something so special about the love between a mom and a daughter.

Thank you for choosing me to capture the amazing friendship you all have and the overflowing love.

Have a great week!

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5 Tips to Get Children to Smile Naturally

Children do not know how to smile naturally so when you tell them to smile or say, 'Cheese' for a photograph you will definitely not get what you are looking for. You will most probably get the smile in the photo on the left when you actually want something more like the smile on the right.

In my previous post, 3 Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Children, my first tip was to not tell them to smile or say, 'Cheese'. So what can you do to get them to smile naturally? Read on for what I have found works for me.

1. Get down to their level

This may not necessarily get them to smile but remember that you are much taller than they are, in some cases double their height. So get down on the floor to their level. This will immediately give you a whole new perspective.

In this photograph I was lying on the floor flat on my stomach.

If I had been standing up I would have had a photograph of the top of his head and would have completely missed this great expression. The same for the photographs below.

2. Catch them Unawares

As a parent you have a real advantage over us professional photographers. When you bring your family to me to photograph I have to work at getting them relaxed and comfortable with me. I'm not going to get a natural smile if they think I am not ok. 

But as parents your children are already relaxed with you so catch them unawares. While they are playing happily, grab your camera, make sure your settings are correct and get down on the floor near them and then get their attention. You will get a photograph to treasure.

3. Be Silly

Now this one doesn't come naturally to all but it is worth it. Pull faces, jump up and down, make weird sounds, threaten them with the tickle monster, tell them you are coming to find their laugh button, make jokes…

So Granny does not look exactly like a model but after all that fun and silliness I got this photograph...

Baby is adorable and Granny is radiant.

4. Forget the Rules

Are children happy when we are angry with them? Generally not; so avoid getting angry when they do not do what you want. I know how frustrating it can be. My eldest daughter is very difficult to photograph and sometimes I want to throw my hands up in despair and I'm the professional! So…when it is not going to plan, walk away and try again later. 

You want them to look at you with laughter in their eyes so make them laugh! Fun is the name of the game!

5. Say, "I love you."

Something that I have found works like a charm when things are not working out is to get my daughter's attention by calling her quite sharply (as though I'm about to get angry) and then breaking into a big grin and saying with great feeling, "I love you!!" Without fail she breaks into a big smile and her eyes sparkle.

I was off camera to the left and my husband took the photo with my phone. I love it. We have this idea that for the photo to be a good one the subject needs to always look into the camera but with children that does not always happen. I love this one because, even though she did not look at the camera, she was looking at me with that cute little look on her face. 

6. Tell them to NOT smile

I know I said 5 tips but I had to include this one.

Warning: This one only works if you have a fun loving, happy go lucky child who understands a little bit of teasing. If you have a more serious child it will backfire.

If you are getting those weird, forced smiles you can tell them with a big smile on your face and a laugh in your voice to not smile. Normally they will try very hard to not smile and then burst into laughter and give you a really beautiful smile or laugh.

I hope these tips will help you out with your family photographs and they will be loads of fun and you'll get great pictures even if only with your phone!

Have a great week!

Today is gone tomorrow. Remember now. Forever.

CONTACT Rosalind | VIEW Portfolio | LIKE Facebook | ENJOY Website

Nothando - Terrific Toddler!

Oh boy, is this little toddler the cutest evert! She arrived still in her pajamas and dressing gown and wasn't quite prepared to change. She also decided that she needed to put on her backpack. My philosophy with small children is to just go with the flow. So we went with the flow and this is the result...

 I set up a nice little scene with a cot and some dollies which you would expect most little girls to just love. Well she decided that this was not to her liking and this is what followed...

 Out goes one dolly.

 Out goes the next dolly.

In goes toddler in pajamas, dressing gown and backback.

Now that is so much better!

Next I set up a scene with pearls and necklaces and other things little girls just can't resist.

That went well for a few moments but she had her heart set on the cot so back it came!

Please note how well those pearls suit dad!

I brought out a little Kiwi from New Zealand that cheeps when you press it's belly. Photographs cannot really capture her reaction. She had absolutely no idea what to make of it. 

Love, love, love this photo of dad and daughter!

We headed on outside for some photographs under the trees on my cute chair with a really girly, pink raffia umbrella. However our model was having none of that. She had spotted the sandpit and absolutely nothing was going to get her out of there. So we picked up our props and joined her in the sandpit!

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