It seems that a lot of parents really want those perfect smiles in family portraits. While that’s definitely something we aim for during a family photo session, it’s never a guarantee. The truth is, children, like most people, are unpredictable. There is one thing, however, that we’re almost always sure to get - some silly and funny faces!

This post is all about the advantages of aiming for those silly faces instead of perfect smiles and a surprising side benefit we might not even think of.

LESS PRESSURE AND STRESS FOR EVERYONE

If we go into the portrait session not expecting those perfect smiles in a family portrait, it takes a lot of pressure off the children and the parents. Any time we try to control others - this most often refers to the parents trying to control their children, not the other way around - we struggle with the fact that we’re not getting what we want. In truth, we can’t control other people, even the little people we gave birth to. And trying to do so always leads to frustration, anger, and disappointment.

On the other hand, going into a session with the mindset that we’re going to have fun, no matter what that means, and allow everyone to be themselves, even if they don’t feel like smiling, will result in a heavy burden being lifted from your shoulders. You’ll be able to breathe easier, appreciate the time we spend together, and look at your children with love and understanding instead of irritation and annoyance.

LETTING CHILDREN BE CHILDREN

Children, by nature, tend to be active, strong willed, and carefree. They don’t really enjoy being told what to do or how to behave.. which is why I mostly focus on letting them lead the portrait session and ask questions about what THEY want to be doing versus telling them what to do. Very often, kids are 100% up for being silly. They can come up with some great expressions when they’re simply allowed to be themselves. And that’s the whole point, isn’t it? We want photographs of our children being just the way they are. We don’t really want images where they’re straining to smile because they want to please us. And you can instantly tell when that’s the case, too. As humans, we are programmed to read expressions down to the very last detail, which is why forcing kids to smile or act a certain way won’t actually get you the photos you’re looking for. The better approach is to let them be themselves. To let them do what they want to do, and to be grateful for their big personalities during this time in their life.

IT’S ACTUALLY A GREAT WAY TO GET NATURAL SMILES

Have you ever noticed that when you let a child do something totally silly and weird, they end up laughing afterwards? Now, this doesn’t always work (everyone is different after all), but 99% of the time, asking a child to make silly faces results in a genuine smile. This is the biggest secret to getting those natural smiling family portraits - to not try to get a smiling shot at all, but ask everyone to be silly, to tickle the kids, to make silly faces, or do anything BUT look at the camera and smile. Smiling isn’t as easy and simple as most people think, especially in a Studio environment. This is why having strategies and a system in place where we can use play and silliness with children will give much better and more consistent results.