It's actually Not that hard. (TWSS)

It feels impossible at times, but with a few little tips and tricks, it can be done!

We have amazing little cameras in our pockets these days, and professional photos are great, and of COURSE I highly recommend them from time to time, but if your goal is to take better photos of your own family, and in particular, your own kids, I have tips for you! (The DSLR version of this post is forthcoming! Stay tuned for that--but these tips equally apply!)

  1. Choose your timing carefully. I find that teenagers and toddlers are really quite similar. They need to be rested, fed, and in the right frame of mind for photos. (I guess this applies to husbands, too.)
  2. Choose a spot with lots of bright, natural light. Windows are your friend, but try to avoid direct sun just for ease. If you're outside, choose a nice bright spot out of harsh direct sunlight. Your goal is "open shade." That means, shade that is bright, but you don't have any dapples of sun poking through.
  3. Give your subject something to do. Especially for toddlers, giving them something fun to DO is usually a really good idea. Plop your toddler down next to your pretty window light, and get them playing with their favorite toy, maybe a toy that has been put away for awhile and therefore is suddenly novel to them. Snap away. Playing music for them to dance to is also great for lots of ages!
  4. If you have a certain goal in mind, like a pretty window picture of your child, clear out the excess clutter in that area. No, you don't have to have a perfectly clean house, but keeping the surrounding clutter to a minimum allows your child to be the hero of the shot.
  5. Turn off your flash. You don't need it, because your lighting is great there by the window with all that beautiful, natural light. Your photos will thank you!
  6. If you have to, a good bribe is a godsend. Bribe away! Candy, extra screen time, pizza for supper--there is a bribe for everyone. Really!
  7. Know when you're beat. Once your bribes have done their job, stop short of direct threats, because at that point smiles become forced and everyone will be pissed, and maybe in tears. If you feel that your little session is devolving, STOP IMMEDIATELY! Don't let yourself get to the point of screaming like a banshee. You will end up with shitty photos that you all hate, and you might even ruin your child's future desire to cooperate for you for photos. Know when you're beat.

I know these tips work, because I've failed so often through the years. I hope I can save even one of you from these frustrations!

The following photos were the direct result unique combinations of the tips above. And no one was physically harmed or psychologically scarred in the process--BONUS.