Seeing more and more kids calling the shots for Headshots from their parents. 
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.
One of the modeling industries best kept secrets to a good headshot or portrait is to keep smiling. Even if the photographer says, “don’t smile” or “smile, but no teeth”, you still want to feel and express as if you’re smiling. It’s called Smiling From the Inside. Expressing a persona of happiness, good mood, friendly demeanor, free spirit will come through on the picture. Regardless of your present mood or state of mind, if the camera can see though your annoyance, be assured the viewer of the picture will. As Ansel Adams once said, “there are at least two people in every picture, the person who took the picture and the person looking at the picture”.
An easy way to keep that inner smile obvious thouh your photo shoot is to think of the last thing that brought you complacency. It could be as simple as that delicious sandwich you just had for lunch or that awesome trip to the Bahamas you just took. Regardless of what it is, make it the most recent occurrence to keep it as clear as possible. Once there, find things around your location that might remind you of that time, such as the photographer’s shirt or the shoes you’re wearing. Expel all negative or downer thoughts. Keep your mind clear and focused on smiling on the inside.
If you’re having trouble reaching the inner smile, ask to take a few minutes to gather your frame of mind. Any photographer worth his/her weight in gold will understand and try to help you with this process.
Don’t expect the photographer to be a comedian and make you smile. True, most photographers can come up with a few humorous situations that will make you smile, but it’s your picture and you really want to make your best impression. Coming prepared with a funny joke list or a few pictures can be a great smile booster as well.