In your family photos, one of the most important things is to capture the fun and joy that comes with having a family. And what better way to capture that joyful energy than by making your kids laugh? Laughter is contagious and it can make any family photoshoot a memorable one and result in phenomenal photos that you’ll love.
Here are some tips on how to make your kids laugh during your family photo session. You may not need them, but it’s great to have some ideas in your back pocket in case your little one gets a case of the grumpies and you need to help them cheer up. Your photographer may use some of these tricks or come up with others on the spot as they get to know your kids. A good photographer is skilled at connecting with kids of all ages!
1. Play Peekaboo
Peekaboo is an age-old game that never fails to make little kids laugh. It’s simple enough for even the youngest of kids to understand and enjoy. Babies as young as 9 months may love this game and even use their tiny hands to try to join in. This will surely make your young kids giggle and it’s a great way to get them to relax and have fun during the photoshoot.
2. Dance Together
Dancing is always fun and it’s a great way to make your kids laugh. Let your kids pick a song they like, turn it up, and then get your family to dance together. You can even make it a competition to see who can do the silliest dance moves. This is a great way to get your kids to loosen up and engage with you, which in turn makes for great photographs. Part of my session planning is to put together a personal playlist for your family that I play throughout the session. Familiar music helps put everyone at ease and encourages impromptu dance moments.
3. Tell Funny Jokes
Some kids love to hear funny jokes and it’s a great way to make them laugh. You can even get your kids to tell jokes to each other. This can be a fun way to get your kids to interact with each other and usually results in some fantastic smiles, especially if the jokes are of the cheesy, silly variety. Don’t forget to ask if dad has any “dad jokes” up his sleeve!
4. Get Creative With Posing
Get creative with your poses and let the kids help come up with posing ideas. You can have your kids pretend to fly, play pretend games, or even make funny faces. Get your kids involved in the process and let them come up with their own ideas. This will make the photoshoot fun for everyone and it will help your kids to stay engaged and laugh as well. It's extra fun for some kids to choose poses for their parents, especially when the kids aren't in the photo. The pressure is off the kids, and they often have genuine laughs watching their parents pose (and the photographer can sneakily turn the camera toward them).
5. Sing Together
Nothing can make a child laugh quite like a silly song. Whether it’s a classic nursery rhyme or something more contemporary, singing together as a family is a great way to lighten the mood and get your kids in the right frame of mind for the photoshoot. You don’t even need to be a good singer - the sillier the better! One classic joke is to start a well-known song and then mess up a lyric, such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little banana…” This can often make little ones crack up.
6. Act Silly
Have one family member, such as a grandparent or parent, hide behind photographer and then pop out when your kids least expect it. They can also make silly faces, noises, or do some physical comedy. Let your kids do it when it's the adults' turn in front of the camera.
7. Run Races
Races are a great way to get your kids laughing and having fun. Have your kids line up and then race each other to a designated finish line. Make the finish line behind where your photographer is standing for some great pictures of your kids. This will help to break the ice and get your kids in a good mood.
8. Make Animal Noises
Having everyone make animal noises is always a surefire way to get your kids laughing. Have each family member (and the photographer) take turns mimicking the sounds of various animals, or turn it into a guessing game!
9. Come Up With Silly Words
For full-family or bigger group pictures, this works best out loud. Have one person come up with the funniest word they can think of and say it. For more intimate pictures (mom and child, two siblings, etc.), have one person think of a word and whisper it in the other person's ear.
10. Group Hug
Start in a traditional family pose, and then yell "group hug!" You can also come up with a secret code word that every time someone says it, everyone has to squeeze in for a group hug.
These are just a few ideas for making your kids laugh during your family photoshoot. With a little creativity and some silly antics, you can easily get your kids in a good mood and capture some great shots. So, next time you’re planning a family photoshoot, keep a few of these ideas in your back pocket to help your kids relax and have some fun.
For help planning your family pictures and getting natural expressions and connections out of your family, contact me!
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