When a client calls and says they want to “try” and have portraits made of their 2 year old, I tend to think, “it can’t be that bad”. This client called and said that they had tried going elsewhere and just can’t get their 2 year old to cooperate. Okay, so maybe it might be a little challenging this time. However, Taylee(2yr.) was not just coming in alone, we had a 1 month old sister(Kylie) as well. After photographing the two of them, I would have never guessed that she has ever been a problem elsewhere. (I realize that children act better for others than they do at home) Anyways, Taylee really posed well for me and had fun. I found out that Mom had been prepping her – but in a good way. She had been telling her how much fun we were going to have, and that we were going to go play while we are taking her pictures…just really making it sound like “FUN”.
Exactly! Take the “terrible” out of the “twos”. Kids always pick up on stress of the parents. If you tell them they are going to have a good time and it is going to be fun – then it will be. Try to choose your clothing a few days ahead of time so you aren’t stressing about what they are going to wear the morning of. Just try and reduce stressful things and really talk up how much fun having pictures taken. However, be careful not to “bribe” them before your session. Sometimes bribing tends to make them only focus on their reward. Occasionaly bribes are needed, but we can worry about that during the session.
