Looking for more genuine smiles?


all ages bring their own challenges. the toddler stage, I can stand on my head, dance, sing in my oh so perfectly out of tune voice, make silly faces and sometimes I do just get the plain stare. which let me tell ya after putting in so much effort makes me realize maybe i need to learn some new tricks. AND THEN, THERE'S THE 4-5 RANGE, WHERE A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO SMILE, BUT IT COMES OUT LOOKING LIKE THEY'RE IN PAIN. THEN YOU GET TO THE TWEEN / TEEN STAGE AND WELL, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE DAY WHAT KIND OF MOOD THEY'RE IN AND MOST TIMES THEY AREN'T ABOUT FAKING A HAPPY DAY WHEN THEY'RE JUST HAVING A ROUGH ONE...WHICH SAME. BUT, HERE ARE SOME OF MY MOST HELPFUL TIPS WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE BEST SMILES POSSIBLE THAT DAY.

REAL SMILES during photoshoot by victoria leigh photography


  1. BRIBE THEM. YES, THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE TIP. HAHA. IT WORKS FOR ALL AGES, AND MOST TIMES IF YOU FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT, IT WILL WORK FOR YEARS TO COME.
  2. DO NOT STRESS. THEY FEEL IT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GETTING UPSET WITH THEM FOR SIMPLY BEING A KID. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PICTURES. WE AS PARENTS DO. SO THEY AREN'T AS INVESTED AS WE ARE. WHO CARES IF YOU GET A FEW SILLY PICTURES? I PROMISE THEY WILL BE HAPPIER AND YOU'LL LOVE THOSE THE MOST. ESPECIALLY MORE THAN THE ONES WITH THE RED NOSE AND EYES FROM CRYING FROM GETTING IN TROUBLE. MOST TIMES, WE AS PHOTOGRAPHERS DON'T MIND TAKING A FEW EXTRA MINUTES IF THEY ARE BEING A LITTLE SILLY THAT DAY.
  3. BRING UP A FEW THINGS THAT YOU KNOW THEY THINK WILL BE SUPER SILLY ABOUT. FOR GIRLS, SOMETIMES IT COULD BE SOMEONE THEY HAVE A CRUSH ON. FOR BOYS, I KNOW THIS COMES AS A SHOCK, BUT BATHROOM TALK IS ALWAYS A WINNER.
  4. LET THEM HELP IN THEIR CLOTHES SELECTION. I KNOW...YOU'RE INVESTING A LOT INTO YOUR SESSION AND YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE ON THEIR FAVORITE CARTOON SHIRT... I TOTALLY GET THAT. BUT MAYBE HOLD OUT 2-3 SHIRTS TO LET THEM CHOOSE FROM. YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAR THAT WILL TAKE THEM TO MAKE THEM FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT DAY. THAT'S THE #1 THING I HEAR ABOUT WHY KIDS AREN'T HAPPY ON PICTURE DAY.
  5. LET THEM TAKE A FEW SILLY PICTURES. THIS WILL DEFINITELY MAKE THEM FEEL MORE INCLUDED AND I PROMISE WE DON'T MIND THE SILLY PICTURES BEING INCLUDED. IT ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME GETS THEM SHOWING THEIR "REAL SMILE" DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS TOO.
  6. LET THEM THINK OF A FEW POSES IF THEY'RE FEELING SHY. EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN PURCHASING. ONCE THEY FEEL THAT CONFIDENCE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU'LL LOVE THE ONES THAT FOLLOW.


BOTTOM LINE, JUST HAVE FUN. IF YOU FIND THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOU, YOU WON'T FEEL RUSHED OR STRESSED. PROFESSIONALS WANT YOU TO LOVE THE EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS THE PHOTOS THAT FOLLOW.