 Jen Smith |
Photographing Rambunctious Children I'm on my way to starting a small business of my own photographing children and families. I have been lucky thus far to not have had little ones that are too extremely difficult to work with. Well... that was until this weekend. This child was absolutely crazy... I think I spent an hour and half with the child and his mom trying to get something good. Needless to say... after 200+ pictures and too much time, I MAYBE got 8 that I am happy with. The mother didn’t seem to have any control over the child and he wouldn’t listen to a thing she said. I have attended Vik Orenstein's Photographing Children Photo Class her at Betterphoto.com and attempted to apply all of the skills that I was taught. I started with it casual, worked it into a game, bribed with candy and played with faux snakes which I knew a head of time that he loved. NOTHING! I know that children 0-3 years you can pull out the old car keys, make silly faces, noises and jump around, and that ages 6+ they understand the concept of sitting still and just getting it over with. What do you do for children like the one I had last weekend? He had just turned 4. Part of me realizes that parents need to have a little control on there children when getting their portraits taken... but on the other had I kinda felt as if I failed.
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Adam L. |
When you figure this out, write a book and I'll buy it.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Oh Girl, I think you need my phone number an da pep talk!! lol,lol Trust me just a bad day at the office.lol I have written a book on childrens photography and am ALWAYS available to talk to others about the frustrations and how we can overcome them. but to start here-Please try thread 1 of the Studio Photography Thread. If You need me feel free to contact me and i'll email you a phone number or you email me yours. At one time I trained for 2 districts at a time for a company and had my own 11 stores- people would ask why my stores were so successful?- because they never felt alone in this venture. you shouldn't be either.
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anonymous |
I don't think there is much you can do in this circumstance. Other than wanting to "givem the wooden spoon!LOL". The child is definitely old enough to know better. I have a 3.5 year old. He definitely knows what is expected etc. When you have a child acting up like this, you just need to say to the parents, that you will not be able to perform a sucessful photo shoot while he/she is like that. Cause when it comes down to it, if the parents can't control them, you certainly won't be able to. Send em' to the corner I say!!!
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Jen Smith |
Thanks Everyone... I need to just think of it as a bad day at the "office", and know that I did my best. I guess it is comforting knowing that it seems to be a universal problem. I kept thinking about what the heck my Mom would have done if I acted like that! YIKES! At one point the little boy kept saying the word "butt" over and over and it did make him laugh. I was sooo embarrassed... but that was the point that I got a few cute photos. Good thing that photo can’t talk. LOL! Thanks for the advice...
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Nicole Kessel |
I'm so glad you asked this, Jennifer! Months ago I tried to photograph a friend of mine and her two year old daughter for "practice" and it was a nightmare! Her daughter ran around like a crazy person! I was really worried that it was me because I do eventually want to do this for living! I'm photographing her again this Friday and I'm a little frightened! LOL! She is so adorable! ...curly blonde hair and big blue eyes... I hope I get some nice shots of her this time. If I don't and I hadn't read this thread I wouldn't know what to do!
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Diane Dupuis |
Duck Tape!!!
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Debby A. Tabb |
lol,lol Diane, it's to early - Kerry already has me busting on another thread,lol,lol
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Kerry L. Walker |
Vallium - not for the kid - for you. Send the mom and kid to a competitor you don't like.
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Kerry L. Walker |
Seriously, this is a customer you do not need. The mom can't control the kid but, if she is not satisfied with the pictures, she will blame you and tell all her friends it was your fault. In a situation like this, it is better to walk away than to put yourself in this kind of situation. (I love kids but I do not do children's portraits and have no desire to start.)
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Jen Smith |
Well... I was so worried about it because she said that she has about 10 ladies at her work that would love to have me take photos for them. If I cant make hers look good then I will not get the other 10!? Bad situation! I guess I cant please them all!
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Pat Worster |
I have even gone so far as to have mom tell the child that she has to run to the store or something and that she will be right back, she is actually in the other room and I got good portraits because they act up worse when the parents are around. I have a day care and I take the portraits during my work day when mom isn't around and I have control. They come home to find great portraits. Pat
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