Posing Toddlers and Children can be a challenge for a photo session. I hope with these 10 Simple Child Photography Poses that it will help you get cute and unique pictures during your photo session.
Kids Photography Session
At the VERY beginning of a kids photography session is when they are just warming up to me so I try to get my “real” poses, as I call them. You now the kids poses that moms and grandmothers love – the ones where they are sitting perfectly still and actually smiling. Thinking more of this part of their session as the “kids portraits“. Why? Because they aren’t going wild on me yet, they are still just getting to know me so they will usually do what I ask! As time progresses through the kids portraits they are used to me and they are comfortable in their new surrounding. Hence they will become more active and their attention span will shrink! This is why capturing these Child Photography Poses the best you can and in a timely matter will really help your session be successful.
Child Photography Poses
1- Sitting
Find a bridge, a bench, a pathway/walkway, a tree trunk, bring a chair or a blanket – whatever it is you choose, start with your sitting pictures first! I pinky promise this will be your best shot at getting them to sit…once they get comfy with you you’ll be chasing them all around!
2- Standing
These top two are the safest and most traditional, grab them quickly before their attention span leaves them! Next have them stand wherever you started – so after the sitting portion go ahead and see if they’ll stand against the tree, stand by the steps or wherever – the goal is just to get them standing still!
3- Laughing & Giggles
There really is nothing cuter than being able to look at a picture and feel like you can hear the laughs and giggles jumping out at you! With a few giggles yourself I promise you the kids will be smiling, be silly and you’ll get them to laugh and give you the biggest grin!
4- Running
What kid doesn’t love to run and play? Play red light/ green light with them! Get them in action, have fun and let them have fun and be kids!
5- Silly Faces
It seems like every kid has their own unique silly face…so give them the prompt to make a silly face.
Usually I’ll tell them that I will count to 3 and on the count of three give me the silly face…right before three I can usually get one of my best smiles from them!
If that doesn’t work…then once you get silly faces make a deal with them they have to give you a big smile! Orrrrrr be sure to have your camera READY once the silly face is gone you will usually get a really cute laugh and smile immediately after so don’t set your camera down!
6- Playing
Kids love to use their imaginations so play right along with that! Tip- toe to your next spot or in the least play hide and seek! Ask them what their favorite song is – maybe it has hand motions, if it does sing along with them and capture this memory.
7- Sitting and looking up
This is one of my favorites poses. Why? I love their eyes. Overtime a child looks up the lighting is always gorgeous. Unless it’s during the middle of the day and it’s too bright!!
8- Action
What ever age the child is that you are taking pictures of I can guarantee they are on the move, right? Capture that developmental stage and freeze it. This little guy won’t be crawling forever, yet now this memory is frozen forever for this mama…and I can pretty much assure you that these two fellas won’t be wanting to jump for pictures in the next few years!!
9- Connection with parents
No matter the child’s age if the parents are a part of the session I love grabbing a picture that connects them to their mama and daddy. If they are on the move let them walk, holding hands, if they are snuggly- then capture them with mom and dads arms around them. Any connection shows emotion and I love it…and so will your mama and daddy’s!
10- “That’s So ____”
You know that face of your child that you absolutely adore because it’s “so” them? That’s the face I want to capture for any mama and daddy! Let the mom/dad look on the back of your camera to see if you got that face that their child always makes and is “so” them! It’s worth it, try and try again if you didn’t get it the first time.
When all else fails get what you can, have fun, let the kids have fun and you’ll walk away with some gems! Are there any other Child Photography Poses we should add to our list? Comment and we’ll add them on!
Have you seen the first part of this series?
Photographing Kids Part 1: How to get Fun Facial Expressions
Photographing Kids Part 2: Top 10 MUST HAVE poses for Kids
Photographing Kids Part 3: 4 Tips for Parents before a Kids Photo Shoot
Hi I’m Erin a Southern girl from South Mississippi, owner and chief editor of Sixth Bloom a blog helping mom-tographers as well as up and coming photographers become successful! You will find me living life to the fullest with my mister (aka husband) and our new little addition Miss Elle in our 500+ sq foot cottage as we build our dream house on our two acres! We are blessed beyond measure, love to travel, involved in ministry at our church and in between all of that I run three successful businesses!
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