p.2 #1 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
dcphoto wrote:
I make one heck of a great "Elmo" voice. Sing a few bars of Elmo's world, and any kid 3 and under will INSTANTLY snap their attention to you. Like Tony said, make sure everyone else's eyes are on you.
I photographed Santa at a rich, upper-class mall for a few years, so you want to learn how to work with kids, try having to get 6 wonderful shots right people are paying for and expect perfection for their family christmas card, while Mom is frazzled, Dad is on a cell phone, the kids are crying from the red "demon" everyone wants them to sit with, and do it all in under 3 mins each time. I AM A CHILD NINJA at this point. haha...Show more →
I keep an Elmo video downloaded to my phone so I can play it and hold it up next to the camera. Haven't tried it with wedding formals but used it on family pics plenty of times and while you may get a few deer in the headlights shots, the adults are generally satisfied with them at least not running away mid shot. That coupled with Tony's advice of making sure all the adults know NOT to look at the kid but to look at me no matter what it generally works pretty well.
p.2 #2 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
When I second someone at weddings I usually dance like a crazy person behind my main shooter when we are involving little kids. I get many compliments from the family every time I do it.
p.2 #3 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
Option 1) have a quick chat to them, show them pics on lcd on back of camera, tell them you'll show them their own pics on the camera if they do some really good poses
Option 2) Have chat with kids, tell them if they look closely at the camera lens.. when I count to 3 they might see a rabbit jump out. (I actually PSd a rabbit into a photo and printed a 6x4 for a little girl once because she became obsessed with the rabbit idea)
Option 3) Ask them if they have any teeth, and ask them to prove it.
Option 4) Call out that there is a rabbit on your head or a kangaroo. Then hop. Someone invariably laughs.
All involve some sort of acting ability.
p.2 #4 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Easiest trick in the book for children 1-8 years old...
Step 1: Be very clear with the family that no matter what that child does, every one of them needs to look at you and keep smiling... even if the kid is doing backflips.
Step 2: Fast walk/run up to the group while saying "I'm gonna tickle ya!" or "I'ma gonna getcha" while laughing and grinning. Camera is down at your side. Works great if there are more than one kid in the group too. Wobble as you walk up so the kids can't tell who you are actually going to tickle/touch their nose.
Step 3: Back away quickly.
Step 4: Start the phrase "I'ma gonna getcha" again. The kids will be giggling and smiling in anticipation of whether they will be the one picked for the tickle or nose touch. Take another shot. walk a couple steps forward...the anticipation gets kids smiling.
Step 5: repeat steps 2-4 as many times as you need to get the shot you want.
This system has been money for me. Of course, I'm a girl. I imagine a large man with a beard might actually make some smaller kids nervous if this method is not used right.
p.2 #5 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
I take a a snap of just the child and show them on the back of the camera, if interested i do a second and show them again then for the third i step back and get the shot.
p.2 #6 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
being a girl.
true story. i somehow never had issue with kids attention . I dont know why, i even had one kid following me whole ceremony. she didnt looked at her mother on the altair once.
p.2 #7 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
Kittyk wrote:
being a girl.
true story. i somehow never had issue with kids attention . I dont know why, i even had one kid following me whole ceremony. she didnt looked at her mother on the altair once.
Same thing happens to me. I like kids and I guess they can sense that.
But during formals you know sometime the kid just doesn't want to be there... it's not me that's scaring them or turning them off... they want to run around and instead daddy plopped them on his shoulder and is standing there because aunt Martha went off to get Uncle Bob who is supposed to be in this formal and was just there, but suddenly disappeared. And then he was fine and ready for the portrait... but MOM, who doesn't EFFING understand that PERFECT is the mortal enemy of GOOD decided his shirt needs to be tucked in more and oh yeah does anyone have a comb becase little joey's hair is 1/4" to the right of where it should be. So now as a result his hair is all over the effing place because he's having a freakin' meltdown... how do you like them apples Mom? Huh? Huh?
p.2 #8 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
you have way too much wedding experiences...
in our country, when kids not behave when there is cake coming, they are either diabetic or dumb. And for diabetics there are usually some another treats and dumb kids nobody want on a photo anyway
p.2 #9 · Wanna share some tips for getting little ones' attention?
Various things that work, depending on the age and temperament of the child:
1. Ask them if they can see the special "fairy" inside the lens.
2. Tell them, whatever you do, don't SMILE! They almost always break out into big smiles.
3. If you're using a tripod, use a shutter release (or, what I do, just push the button but don't look through the viewfinder) and just make silly faces/noises at them and take the photo when you see the expression you want.
4. Depending on if the parents are okay with it, use "naughty" words to elicit giggles (for some reason "fart" is a big one)
5. Shameless bribes.
. I dont know why, i even had one kid following me whole ceremony. she didnt looked at her mother on the altair once. 
