Poof! Kids reach a certain age and suddenly don’t want to be photographed. They hide from the camera, they sulk, they goof around when you tell them to smile. But! My photographer friend Alpha has figured out ways to get her adorable (and spirited!) niece to interact with the camera. As part of a three-part photography series sponsored by Canon, Alpha agreed to share six handy tips for photographing older children…

 

1. Let them jump on the bed or couch! They love seeing photos where they’re suspended in air.

2. Dancing always helps them loosen up. Doing the twist adds cute movement, and ballerina spins are fun, too.

3. Sometimes silly faces are exactly how you want to remember their personality. Stick to the more charming ones—monkey and fish faces are usually pretty cute.

4. Give them confetti. You’ll get real expressions if they’re truly enjoying themselves. Bubbles are messy but do the trick, too.

5. Use props—like a disco ball or favorite dress-up hat. Props will make them pause and you can capture quieter moments that way.

6. Ask them to look out the window and tell you what they see. Plus, the natural light will be beautiful.

Bonus: Eventually all the activity will wear them out, and they’ll be happy to sit in one spot for you!

Thank you so much, Alpha!

P.S. Six tips for photographing your toddler.

(This post was sponsored by Canon as part of a three-post series about photographing kids. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that make Cup of Jo possible. Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo. Adorable daughter by Kendra Smoot:)