As we discussed before, getting your kids to smile for photos can be really difficult if you are asking them over and over again to just give you ONE good smile!  So I shared my favorite activity ideas with you (see them HERE!) to engage your kids in photos– and I definitely recommend starting there! Once you’ve tricked (just kidding…sort of!)  your kids into believing that photos ARE fun and can be play-based, the next step is what I am sharing today: Hacks to get them to actually SMILE, engage with you, and give genuine expressions for photos.  The biggest secret?  You can’t ASK them to smile– you have to prompt them in other ways to give you those expressions!  So today, I am sharing my

TOP 10 HACKS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

If you’d rather watch this content, click HERE to watch these hacks explained in my latest YouTube video! 

These hacks are all prompts–things you will say or questions you will ask your kids, and as they are talking back to you (and hopefully giggling/smiling/giving those face expressions that only MOM really knows), you can snap away and grab photos that you really love.  Because instead of those zombie-blank-eyed-fake-smile photos you maybe used to get, you can get a lot of photos of your kids sharing real expressions and smiles (because you are going to prompt the expression out of them!).  And as a result, you can feel like one of my favorite crazy, camera-loving screen moms:   It’s easier then you think– just read on!

BUT FIRST!

Let’s set up for success…which means we need to find a spot with GOOD LIGHT for these photos. If you aren’t sure how to do that, check out these two quick videos (click HERE and HERE)–each is less than 5 minutes!.  You could also read about them if you would rather (click HERE and HERE). Now– let’s get to it!

10 Photo Hack Prompts to get Smiles for Photos

1. Leading in from last week…just let them play (however they want!)– and then call their name or nickname to get good genuine eye contact, and a potential smile.  Interrupt them and surprise them, and see what you get!
2. While they are doing another activity that you are grabbing a few photos of, make a loud and/or silly noise that will cause them to look at and laugh at (fart noises are most effective in my home).  The louder and sillier, then better!
3. Ask your child to tell you what a dino/dragon/bear says, and give a big reaction about how loud or fierce or scary or silly it was!
4. If you are photographing 2 kids, I love asking them to tell secrets between siblings (whisper secrets to each other one at a time).
5. Ask them to tell you something they love about __(fill in something they love a lot)__. Example: Dad, pizza, gym class, ice cream, etc.  This is a good way to get good genuine expressions (though maybe not big-mouthed smiles).
6. Use good old reverse psychology.  Tell them NOT to smile/laugh.  “Don’t you do it! No thank you!! Noooo way.”

The following prompts are best suited for younger kids– or older kids who are young at heart (age 5 or under probably)!        

1. Ask them: “Can You show my camera your ____” (dress, toes, eyelashes, etc).  Kids under 5 LOVE to show off–and they                 will love to do this, too!        
2.  “Where is your smile hiding?? Is it in your…ears?? Belly button?? Neck??” (give a little tickle to those places as you ask, then pop back and snap the shot!)        
3. Silly What-If questions.  “What if…daddy wore Princess Elsa’s dress?”, etc      
4. Animal noises that are incorrect with younger kids (“I can tell you what a Cow says!  Bahhhhh”). 

As you are prompting your kids with these questions, there are two things to remember: 1). Your inflection and energy matter!  If you sound unexcited and bored, your kid for SURE is going to be too, and the best photo you are going to get may resemble this:

but your kids will MATCH your energy!  So if you whip out your best mom voice (I know you have one!), your kids will respond a lot more enthusiastically!

and

2). SNAP PHOTOS THE WHOLE TIME!  Kids expressions change fast (and they are wiggly)–so try to stay behind the camera and photograph WHILE you talk.  That can be tricky at first, but it gets easier with practice!! There will be plenty to send straight to the trash (and do it tonight so your phone doesn’t fill up too quick with many non-keepers), but it will be so worth it to find those photos that you just LOVE of your kids sharing genuine expressions and smiles from these prompts!

If you want to see my FULL list of 20 prompts (these plus 10 new ones), sign up below and the full prompt list will be right on its way to your inbox (but check your spam folder if it’s not in your inbox, because spam folders really love emails from small business owners!).

To learn more about how to better photograph your kids using natural light in your own home, check out these other blog posts I’ve created just for YOU! 

The Secret to Great Indoor Photos

How to Take Better Photos Using Natural Window Light

Must Have Photo Ideas for your Kids