Helpful Tips for Formal Pictures with Kids

     Taking formal pictures with babies and children is not a task for the faint at heart. Hopefully, you get some beautiful memories out of it that somehow only a photographer can capture, but reaching that end might require a fill up on Red Bull, a lot of creativity, snacks, and a whole heap of patience.

     We just took our week-and-a-half old infant and toddler to take pictures. We were hoping to capture our infant in "Anne Geddes" type poses, where he would be all curled up and sleepy, and able to put in any pose one desired. And of course, we planned on getting some sweet pictures with big sister Ava, and a few of the whole family.

     I have to say it all went remarkably well and I think we captured some really sweet, unique poses with the kids. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when taking young children for formal pictures:

1. Bring snacks. This seems obvious, but realize that photo sessions will possibly take longer than expected due to the unpredictability of kids. Full bellies usually produce happy children, and hopefully, a few more favorable pictures to be able to choose from.

2. Pack a few fun activities. Thankfully the photog who took our pics is a mom herself, so she pulled out a few things for Ava to do when she wasn't being photographed. Play-doh, coloring, books, or other crafts are all great options to keep in mind as options to help pass the time.

3. Take a break. When our infant was being posed, and we were waiting for him to stop crying to get that "Anne Geddes" picture, our toddler was losing patience and getting bored. Eventually, my husband just took her outside and they walked up and down the sidewalk. A little fresh air and walking around helped to calm her down.

4. Hope for the best... I hesitate to follow by saying to expect something a little less than the best, but.... Be realistic with what you expect from your kids, especially if they are young. Ava loved the camera, but after a while, she was more interested in climbing the stairs and touching the props on the side.

5. Schedule the session at the most optimal time for your kids. Looking back, I would have preferred a scheduled morning session. Due to our busy schedule, we were only able to have a 5:00 time slot, which was not necessarily ideal for our child (though she still did fairly well, all things considering).

6. Know when it's time to call it quits. Our 10 day-old was quite the trooper through it all - being stripped down to his diaper, then having that taken off, placed in an open suitcase, placed in a cute bucket,  put in a bean bag, and finally, in a pea pod. The pea pod was the last straw for Owen. He had had enough, and we all knew it, so we called it a rap.

     How do you keep your kids happy during photo sessions, and what other tips can you provide from experience to help everyone have a positive session?