A common magnet and resistance of most photographers are kids. Anywhere from a few months to half dozen years. Those candid poses, impromptu smiles, glances of curiosity makes any photographer smile capturing that perfect shot. The knocking over of lights, crying, whaling, temper tantrums and helicopter parents make photographers run. Yet with an equal amount of nays as yeas, something must balance since there are so many professional photographers taking pictures of kids.
I’ve put in some time as a photographer at John Robert Powers and Barbizon School of Modeling to know that kids, like adults need to have that inherent drive to become a model. This is nothing that their parents can instill, it has to and for the money makers does come naturally. There’s a certain camera presence that is triggered as soon as the cameras pointed at them. They find a certain kind if mystique from the person behind the camera. It almost becomes a hide and go seek game to them.
Kids, unlike adults have a narrow marketing range and short expiration. Child models need to update their comp cards once every 3-4 months, whereas adults maybe once a year at a good rate.
A few good tips I like to give parents before the shoot is make their kids feel as if this is a treat. After all, it’s the parents money being spent on the photo shoot. Schedule the shoot at the kids mellow time of day. Bring a few of the kids favorite toys or security items such as a blanket, doll or teddy bear. During the photo shoot, gradually make your way out of the studio so it becomes more one on one with the photographer and the kid, yet staying with in earshot with occasional glances of the shoot. Ask the photographer for references of people he/she has worked with. Lastly, keep the part about being a treat for your kid real. Make it a special day that you will have some great memories.
