Parents always ask me how I get such genuine silliness and fun out of my child actors and models, especially on days when I am responsible for their first ever photoshoot. The first part of my answer is, I am a very silly human being. But the second part, that requires parent involvement. You can help me create awesome headshots for your kids in a few different ways:
GET SOME REST!
Make sure they’ve gotten enough sleep the night before. Treat their headshot session the way you would a big test at school: early to bed, good breakfast, make sure they feel prepared, confident, and happy before arriving.
COMFORTABLE KIDS ARE HAPPY KIDS
Bring snacks and water. Sometimes two year olds get grumpy because the sky is blue, and I know that. But sometimes they get grumpy because they’re hungry and haven’t said so, or want a little break but don’t know how to tell us. Kids are just kids, they aren’t adults, and even the most professional child actor is still a child: my sessions are structured to be very family friendly and relaxed. If they need a break, let them have one!
Think your kiddo might be catching a cold? It’s not time for their headshot session. I can retouch skinned elbows and boo-boos all day long, but there is no photoshop for “miserable and has a fever”. Keep that baby home, give it a week, I promise I’ll reschedule with you when they are well again.
BUILD UP THE BABIES!
Tell them how awesome they are doing! Tell them they ROCK! Headshot day is a fun day. It is something to be excited about, to enjoy, to look forward to doing every six months. Please don’t yell at, criticize, or otherwise undermine the confidence of my tiny humans. I PROMISE we will get good images. I will be silly with your child until the world ends if I have to in order to get the shots I need. Telling a child “don’t smile that way” or “that looks awkward” will… you guessed it… make them look and feel more awkward. Photoshoots ARE awkward the first time. I’m a stranger with a funny black box that makes clicking sounds and half the time I have purple hair. Let it be awkward! Awkward is natural, awkward is FUNNY! I can and will break the ice with them, it will be ok. I have worked with every level of shyness, every age, every “too cool for this” and “I don’t feel pretty enough” mood you can imagine. Trust your photographer, trust your beautiful baby, we’ve got it covered.
EMBRACE THE SILLINESS
If there’s a family joke that makes your 9 year old giggle, tell it! I’ve heard it all, so if dad’s smelly farts are what gets us belly laughs then bring on the fart jokes. If we accidentally confuse “poop jokes” with “boob jokes” in public one day in Miami (looking at you, Valerie), it’s totally fine, it’s all madness here anyway. If there’s a great youtube video that will have your 4 year old in stitches, let’s play it. I’ve heard Baby Shark 643,369,549 times just like you, and I will dance the heck out of that song if it creates great smiles. For our session time, I will 100% be the best party clown with a camera your little one has ever met – if that’s what they need from me that day – and it all works best when you join in too.
KEEP PERSPECTIVE
If you only read one section, read this one. This, more than any of the rest, is most important. Remember what we are doing. We are creating headshots together, which is Step 1 for your child to go on to book jobs in this wonderful industry I’ve loved since I was 19. You know why I love it? I’ve had countless wonderful experiences with amazing artists who inspire me, push me, drive me to be excellent.
I want your child to have the opportunity to fall in love with this industry, too. I am their first experience being on set, their first experience laughing and being silly in front of a stranger trying to take their photo. The tone we set that day, however positive or negative, is the first memory that will color ALL of their other memories of what being a child model or actor was like. No pressure or anything, but it’s a big deal. Keep it positive. Keep it encouraging. The more fun we have, the more excited they will be walking onto their first production set. The better they will want to listen to their first director. The more confident they will be working their first print campaign. Let’s have a great time together, make great images, and give your kiddos an experience that will encourage them to keep pursuing this dream of theirs. It’s for them.