Why You Should Never Ask Your Child To Smile At Your Photo Session
A baby boy in overalls standing on a path.

As a photographer, I have always found it frustrating to have clients ask their children to smile at the camera. It’s not natural for children and it’s even less so when they are asked to do it in front of other people. In this article, I’ll share my personal experience as well as some of the reasons why you should never ask your child to smile for photos.

As a parent, it can be tempting to want your child to smile at your photo session. However, there are a few reasons why you should avoid asking your child to smile. First, it can be difficult for young children to maintain a natural smile for an extended period of time. Second, asking your child to smile may cause them to feel self-conscious or even uncomfortable. Finally, by not asking your child to smile, you may end up with more genuine and natural-looking photos.

A baby sitting on a path in a park.

The Importance of Looking Authentic on Photos

We’ve all seen those photos where the subjects are smiling so hard their eyes are closed, or they look like they’re about to burst out laughing. And while those photos can be cute, they’re not always the most natural or authentic-looking. That’s why, when it comes to your own photo session, you should never ask your child to smile. Instead, let them be themselves and capture their true emotions.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but sometimes the best way to get a genuine smile out of your child is to not ask for one at all. If you just let them play and be themselves, the chances are good that you’ll capture some truly wonderful moments – including some beautiful smiles. So next time you’re planning a photo session, put away the props and cheesy grins, and just let your kids be themselves. You might just be surprised at how amazing the results can be.

Why you should never ask your child to smile

It’s no secret that children can be difficult to photograph. They’re often uncooperative, fidgety, and don’t have the best attention span. As a result, it can be tempting to ask your child to smile at your photo session. However, there are several reasons why you should never do this.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that children are individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Forcing them to smile on command can make them feel uncomfortable and even upset. It’s also worth noting that not all children know how to fake a genuine smile. Asking them to do so will likely result in an awkward-looking photo that doesn’t capture their true personality.

It’s also important to consider the message you’re sending to your child when you ask them to smile for the camera. You’re essentially telling them that their natural expressions are not good enough and that they need to change themselves for the sake of the photo. This can damage their self-esteem and cause them to believe that they need to continuously put on a happy face for the world, even when they’re

How Parents Can Manage and Avoid This Situation

Asking your child to smile at your photo session can be a difficult situation for parents. Here are some tips on how to manage and avoid this situation:

– Talk to your child before the photo session about what you expect from them during the session. This will help them understand what is expected of them and they may be more likely to cooperate.
– If your child is not cooperating, try not to get frustrated. Take a break if you need to and come back to it later.
– Be prepared with other activities or props that you can use to get your child’s attention and make them smile. This can help take the pressure off of them to perform.
– Ultimately, it is up to you as the parent to decide whether or not to ask your child to smile at your photo session. If you do decide to ask them, be prepared for anything!

 

I hope this article has given you some food for thought the next time you are planning to ask your child to smile for a photo session. It is important to remember that children are individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions — and sometimes, those thoughts, feelings, and emotions might not be happy ones. Asking your child to put on a fake smile for the camera is not only disrespectful, but it can also be damaging to their self-esteem. If you want to capture genuine smiles from your children, try engaging them in fun activities or conversation before taking out the camera.

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