Kid Photography

Capturing precious memories of the little loves of your life is something you will always treasure. But do you want something more than just a school picture headshot? The Velvet Oak can create a complete portfolio of journalistic style and creative, artistic poses that showcase your child's unique personality. We love Kid Photography!

As photographers, we're never too bothered by kids' behavior, whether they are supercharged and run wild with energy, or they're little timid beings that are extremely camera shy. Kids have a vast spectrum of personalities and quirks, and it's SO FUN and one of the best parts of our job.

Tips for your Kid Photography Session

We get it. You've done all the leg work; you booked the photographer, picked everyone's outfits, even dragged your husband here (which is sometimes most impressive of all). You want the experience to be enjoyable and the pictures to turn out amazingly. This is not an unachievable dream, we promise! Here are a couple of quick tips we've learned over the years to make Kid Photography Sessions go smoothly:

Snacks & Bribes - Always snacks and brides. These are brilliant ways to keep kids motivated and on track during a photoshoot: sweets, ice cream, even a little toy, or an outing.

Of course, it's best not to tell kids about these treats before the session; wait until the kids start getting fatigued before you pull the candy card!

Important tip: make sure the snacks and treats won't stain lips, fingers, or, most importantly, their clothes! Photoshop is a powerful tool, but a chocolate mustache is even more powerful.

Outfits. If your child hates what they are wearing, it will be evident in the photos. I know, I know, the thought of scrapping that adorable hairband or the little one that might make you sad, but trust us, a photo of a happy kid in simple clothing is better than a photo of a screaming kid in fancy clothes. It may not be charming, but the child has got to like what they're wearing, too. Also, dress with the weather in mind. You want to make sure your child isn't sweating or shivering with blue lips; it will affect their mood and, in turn, your photos. Check the weather forecast the day before the shoot and have all of the outfits picked out that night, so you are not adding any more stress to the actual day! Layers are always helpful.

Walkable shoes. Walkable and comfy shoes are a must! Even if your kids are barefoot during the shoot itself, a good pair of shoes to get from A to B is essential. A pair of backup shoes if there is muddy or wet ground on the way to your location.

A Change of Clothes. Following on from the last point, packing another set of clothes for the kids if they happen to get dirty or muddy is strongly advised. As a photographer, I love when kids interact fully with their surroundings, and I'm thrilled to get a great photograph of them splashing about in the water or climbing up trees. As a parent, however, you may not be too keen (understandably) to have dirt smears all over their sweet white summer dress or to let them back into your recently cleaned car when they look like a piece of crumbed chicken. So, again, this is why bringing a change of clothes and even a towel is wise.Prepare your Pitch! It's a good idea to prepare your kids (and husband) with little references to let them know what's happening. We'd advise our clients to tell their kids something like, "we'll be hanging out with our friends on Saturday!" or "we're going to the park for a fun day out!" The main thing is it's all kept casual and light-hearted. Families have told me that this tip is beneficial for a shy or anxious child. A photoshoot is just a big play date. There's no need for it to be rigid and formal - embrace our session running around and carefree nature. Of course, if your child is old enough, you could tell them how you would like them to behave during the shoot. The less demanding you are, the more likely you are to be met with cooperation. Remember, this is photography, not video; they don't have to be perfect the whole time, just moments of it!

Think about specific props. Some families have unique toys or items they want to be captured in these shoots as little mementos that give more meaning to the photos. This might be a particular stuffed animal, a keepsake, family heirloom, or even just your child's favorite toy or skateboard. If you think there may be any, in particular, you'd like to use, have a good brainstorm about it the night before (and let us know about it, too!) Not necessary if nothing comes to mind.

Let the smile come naturally! Listen, parents, this is the big one! Fight your instincts and resist the temptation to say things like "cheese" or "Big smiles!" to your kids. The best way to get a 'real smile' is to actually make your child laugh or smile (as a former child, I can attest to this). So instead of telling them how they should look, be a bit silly and make things more fun or leave it to us- we speak fluent kid. If you know what sets your child off or anything they laugh at when watching TV, a favorite song, joke, or noise, try and channel that. A genuine laugh or smile makes for a beautiful photo.

Stay Positive and have fun! People forget a thing about kids; they pick up on their parent's mood. So with that in mind, relax! There is nothing to stress about. I'm capturing your family just as you are at that moment in time, so rather than concentrating on taking lovely photos- focus on creating beautiful memories.

(Bonus Tip: Make sure everyone gets a good sleep the night before and eats a good meal beforehand. There's nothing on this Earth more unwilling to cooperate than a tired child - except perhaps a hungry husband.)

WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION CHECKLIST

An extra set of clothes for each child
Snacks, water bottles, and whatever bribe/motivator you have decided on for your shoot
Towels (a lot of our sessions end up in the water!)
A blanket to sit on if your child is sensitive to grass/sand etc. (this will be seen in the pictures, so don't bring the bright blue picnic rug…)
Comfort toys, or anything unique item you would like your child to be photographed with.
Shoes to get from A to B, or shoes that go with their outfit if they are not barefoot.
Wipes for the grubs
Layers if the weather is a bit chilly, it never hurts to throw in a cardi, cold kids/babies are never happy.

Contact The Velvet Oak for Bar and Bat Mitzvah Photography, Beach Photography, Birthday Party Photography, Bridal Session Photography, Bridal Portraits, Child Photography, Kid Photography, Children Photography, Engagement Photography, Family Photographers, Family Photography, Maternity Photography, Photographers, Photography, Portraits, Portraiture, Senior Portraits, Elopement Photography, Elopement Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer, Destination Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographers, and Wedding Photography. Proudly supporting the areas of St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island, Brunswick, Golden Isles, South Georgia, North Florida, Kingsland, Darien, Savannah, Tybee Island, Raleigh, Chape Hill, Durham, North Carolina, Cumberland Island, Hilton Head, JAX, Jacksonville, New York City, Manhattan, Long Island, and surrounding areas.

Contact The Velvet Oak