17/01/2024
As a photographer, I know that doing a photo session with kids that are on the spectrum or have anxieties can be frustrating. Some mothers have told me they had photographers get frustrated and yell at their kids. Other photographers refused to take photos with the kids because they were on the spectrum. One of the things I'm proud of with our photography is that both Jane and I have developed a good reputation for dealing with kids who have developmental problems such as autism, ADHD, and anxieties. Some kids have anxieties that can be paralyzing for them when they do a photoshoot, so the best thing you can do when are looking for a photographer is ask how they deal with kids on the spectrum. Here are a few things I do to relax the kids before and during the session.
If I just jump into the session, it doesn’t allow the kids enough time to relax. Therefore, I get to know the kids before they even start the session by assessing the mood and temperament of the kid. I do this by asking a quick question like “How are you doing today?” “Are you ready to have your picture taken?” If it seems like they are stressed out I might have a long conversation about their favorite cartoon character or the clothes they are wearing. I try to talk to them about something they like to play with or watch on tv. This simple action creates a relationship, and that relationship makes it easier to communicate the directions for the photos.
I have toys available for them to play with like squishy balls and fidget spinners. Stuffed animals with squeaky paws works to get their attention. I have a feather duster that I tickle them with. I also play music on the radio.
Some kids relax more when you show them their photos from the session. I will take some photos then download a couple of the best photos to my tablet so they can see themselves. Make sure you only show the good ones. If they see a bad one, it can destroy their confidence and make it twice as hard to interact with the kids. Most people relax about the shoot when they see that you are not making them look awkward with a strange look on thier face. So, make sure to show only the good ones and they will want to take more photos with you. Make sure to compliment the photos and tell them that they are beautiful or handsome. This usually brings a smile out.
Another group of kids have a lot of energy, but this is just them showing their insecurities by running around and causing trouble by touching and getting into everything. In my experience, with these kids if you get them to ask you questions and have a conversation about the things in the room, they tend to stay more focused on what you want. Then if you talk to them about subjects they like or play games with objects in the room, they forget they are there to take photos, and start to have fun.
The best thing you can do is learn how each kid communicates the stress they are feeling about the session, then learn what relaxes them. Some kids might change during the session, just like the child that is photographed with me. He first relaxed by talking to him. Later he wanted to play swords. Then he liked it when he was able to scare and tickle me with the feather duster. During the session he had a meltdown and threw a temper tantrum. We had a water bottle that I acted like I was spraying his mom, dad, my wife and myself with. Playing with the water bottle redirected his attention and brought him back to the smiley kid wanting to take photos.
One tip for parents, a photographer needs to create a relationship with the kids to create the perfect environment for them to have fun and get them to look in the right direction. A lot of parents will give directions to the kids while we are giving directions to the kids. We know you are trying to help, but I guarantee that if you give us just a few minutes to create a relationship with your kids, the photos will be much better than you expected, and the kids will completely enjoy their photoshoot. So, sit back and relax and let us photographers do our job.
No kid is the same, but one thing that is the same with all kids is if you listen well enough, they will tell you how to relax them, and get them to do what you want them to do. This is just the tip of the iceberg on things I do to help make your sessions more fun with kids. It doesn’t need to be a struggle if you work hard to learn each kids way of communicating with others.
