Getting kids to cooperate. Or at least not tear down the studio.

Let’s face it, even the best behaved child can be tough to photograph. Toddlers don’t understand you, younger kids don’t sit still, and the older kids don’t want to be there at all. No matter what it’s a challenge. The good news is that it’s a challenge that can be fun to overcome!

Most of the methods aren’t going to work for every age group, and even then it may vary some from child to child. A teenager isn’t going to react the same as a preschooler. The fundamentals are the same though; find what interests them, and make that the focus.

Don’t drag on the process trying to get the “perfect” shot. You can always come back to them in a few minutes.

This can start before the camera ever comes out. Just talking to the kid will show them that you are more than just the crazy person with a camera and bright lights. Just talk to them, the same as you would any adult, and help them get comfortable. Let them get to know you, and a bit about what you’re doing, and they will be much happier when the flash starts going off.

The faster you can get the kid’s picture, the better. Any kid, but especially the younger ones, will quickly get bored and start fidgeting if they’re sitting alone in front of the camera. You may only get a few chances to get the shot before they get bored and want to do something else. When this happens, the worst thing you can do is to make them sit still for just one more shot. They won’t sit still. You still won’t have the shot. And it will only get worse the longer you drag it on. So don’t force it, take a step back, and let them run around for a minute. You may be able to get a better picture while they’re playing anyway.

Props are for the kid, not the camera.

Any props you use will only help if the kid is actually interested in it. So no, having a child hold a chalkboard with some cheesy message isn’t going to give you any better of a photo. Giving some toys to play with though? This works great for younger kids, who will sit and play for as long as you let them. If you play with them, you may have a fantastic opportunity for some pictures that could never be posed.

And the best part? The kid will be happy the whole time. You won’t have to worry about them running off somewhere out of boredom. While this may not be the solution for every picture, it’s a very useful way to get natural, happy pictures.

With older kids, let them help.

Sometimes, the easiest way to get a cooperative kid is to let them be part of the process. Talk them through what you’re doing, explain the basics of why there are lights, or why you want them to stand by a window. Let them see behind the camera and get interested in the process. At that point, they will happily be the model just so they can see the results.

So while there is no “one way” to get a great child portrait, the key element is the same with whatever method you use. Get them interested, and keep them engaged. There’s no assembly line sit and smile, just be creative and let the kid have some fun!