Get a Baby to Smile in Pandemic Photos While Wearing a Mask?! {Logan Square/Avondale Chicago Family Photo Session}

My usual tricks don’t work in a pandemic for getting littles to smile or laugh! I rely so much on facial expressions, games and tickling while photographing kids but that doesn’t work when my face is covered and I can’t get close enough to play. It’s been a challenging year in every aspect for all of us, so this seems trivial in the grand scheme of things. And I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I do still appreciate a child’s natural expression over a forced smile anyway.

Miss O was not impressed with any of my antics! Peek-a-boo and her favorite songs weren’t working. Then again, she wasn’t falling for any of it from her parents or grandma either! I got lucky for a few photos with their help but most of the time, she really showed her disdain for having to perform in front of a camera! And we all laughed a lot! Her dad said he was so proud of her for not giving in ;P We think she may have started teething that day and just wasn’t feeling the smiles. Of course, Murphy’s Law. And it’s 2020. What can go wrong, will go wrong. Still, a lot of the mean-mugs and so-over-it photos were priceless gems for her family and they really make me smile!

We took some photos on their porch and then took a stroll through their neighborhood during the peak fall colors on a gorgeous afternoon here in Chicago. I had so much fun trying to get this girl to giggle, even though I worked up a sweat like it was a hot summer day!

Much love, friends!

Chicago Newborn Lifestyle Session [Roscoe Village, Chicago]

If you’re like me & are reeling in anxiety from the election counting process and you can’t go on anymore miles-long walks or stress-eat anymore, maybe some cute baby toes and big brother secret-telling will distract you?

Photographing newborns these days looks quite different than it did in the beginning of the year but I’m still safely photographing. Check out this sweet session with Mr. M, the smiliest baby I’ve had in a long time, and his proud big brother Jim. Although Marty was brand new, he was too excited to sleep and didn’t want to miss anything going on in the world so he partied like it was 1999 the whole time I was with him! That’s ok, though, because I love when babies open their eyes and I get a glimpse of who they are. And I really love big brothers that are up for the job of showing their siblings the ways of the world! Plus, these two have the coolest brother-name-pairing ever. Jim and Marty?! Come on! I never hear those names anymore. I was talking to their Mom during this session and we both agreed it sounds like a pair of two old guys getting coffee together. How adorable is that?!

I’ll keep the post short today and let the images do the talking because my head’s already back into anxious-land and I need to go check the NPR website and pour a glass of wine because I can’t concentrate anymore and am just producing run-on sentences… ;)

Hang in there, friends!

My Number One Tip For Getting Your Child To Smile in a Photo! Hint: It’s not cheese!

Tips for photographing your child

Parents are always telling me that their child either won’t smile for a photo or will make the forced “cheese” smile and it drives them crazy. I hear you! Children have been trained to do that in photos, even when having their photo taken by a professional. I’m here to tell you that the “cheese” just looks forced. Because it is actually forced! Put yourself in their shoes… do you smile when someone tells you to smile?!

If you’ve ever had a session with me, you know that I get silly with kids! I do whatever it takes to get those real smiles. Do this at home too! You know your child better than anyone and know what will make them laugh. Laughing photos are way more genuine than the cheese! My mom used to make us say “Fuzzy Pickles” when we were young because it was silly. Actually, she still does :P I recommend changing it up every so often though. The shock value will eventually wear off!

Number One Tip:

Play with them and get silllllly! Threaten to tickle them. Actually tickle them. Make it a game. If all else fails, make silly animal noises and ask them to repeat. My go-to is the pig who teases and says it’s going to tickle them!

Kids are so used to having phones and cameras in their faces all of the time and when you ask them to smile, or ask them for the cheese, it becomes more of a chore the older they get. And when they start to form their own opinions, watch out! You have to make it fun!

Have multiple littles?! Luck ;) Getting more than one child to look at the camera AND a real smile is tough! Up your improv game!

Tell Jokes or Ask Silly Questions!

Engage their curiosity, then be ready to snap away.

Take Photos of Them Doing What They Do Best

Do they love to dance? Play with trains? Swing on the swings at the park?

Capturing them in the moment, having fun, will give you natural smiles, laughs and playfulness because they’re already doing something they love to do! And with you there to cheer them on, it’s sure to make a great photo for you without the tears flowing.

Get Down To Their Eye-Level

Makes for a much more interesting photo and is better for connecting with them.

Infants can be a bit easier to get to smile because they haven’t received a diploma in the cheese yet and they’re genuinely curious about everything! Get down to their level, capture them crawling and exploring. The hardest part with these kiddos is that you’re engaged with their attention and then a big phone/camera comes up and can ruin the engagement.

Still No Smile? Grab It Anyway!

I LOVE non-smiley photos too! Not every moment in life is all-smiles. Show real-life, even if you have to put aside your original vision for that photo.