The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box. ~ Henri Cartier Bresson
Have you ever tried to take pictures of a one year old? Whew! It sure is exhausting. Brielle turned one in September. And since then, picture taking has NOT been the same. Yes folks, Brielle is my fleeting prey and I am trying to trap her in the lens of my camera.
All the questions from my students I now completely understand and have a new found appreciation for.
“How can I get my kids to sit still?”
“How can I get them to smile?”
Those questions are now my reality. No matter how much I try to set up the scene, or adjust my camera settings before allowing my little model to make her grand entrance, it never fails that the shot I intended to capture is lost.
As soon Brielle hits the ground she’s on the move. Climbing the stairs, looking out windows, picking up each and every last bit of fuzz, food, or paper that crosses her path. She’s a blur of exploration, wonderment, and curiosity about her surroundings.
So what’s a mom to do? How can I get her to smile and sit still for the camera? You’re in luck because today I think I may have found the answer. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. The golden rule I learned when I got my degree in Elementary Education:
We must work with our children where they are.
That’s right my friends. Stop fighting what you can’t control. A child isn’t going to magically begin to read when you put a book in front of them. They aren’t going to be able to write their name the moment you put a pencil in their hand. And, I can’t set the expectation that my curious one year old is going to want to stop and smile for pictures when she’s busy playing with the cat.
We must work with our children patiently, showing them what we need them to know to get them to where we want to be. One day Brielle will beg to play dress up and model for me in front of the camera (I hope!). But until that day arrives, it’s my job to set the stage for correct exposure. Find beautiful light. Choose the right camera settings. And make magic happen by crawling around after her on the floor, singing her favorite songs, and playing peek-a-boo from behind my lens.
If luck is on my side, I just might trap the fleeting prey in my little box for all eternity.
Are you ready to set the stage for fabulous photos of your children, right where they are? Sign-up for my new free e-course, It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, and we’ll work together for the next month on getting you up, out, and photo adventuring with your kiddos. Just enter your email below and I’ll mail you your first ‘gift’ right away.