Family Shoot - toddlers are tough!

[CanadianKitKat]

Did a family shoot yesterday. I don't have kids, and don't work with them a lot, and the little boy here was extremely tough! He's almost three and didn't want his picture taken, didn't want to sit still, and although I got a few randoms of him, they were few and far between! If anyone can give me a few pointers on how to get their attention, I'd really appreciate it. Myself and his parents tried multiple tactics, very few of which worked for more than about 2 seconds at a time :D

Anyhow, here are a few of the shots from yesterday...

1.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685857322_hXxM4-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685857322_hXxM4-A-LB)

2.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685855190_F6diX-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685855190_F6diX-A-LB)

3.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685854334_2TuCC-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685854334_2TuCC-A-LB)

4.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685853452_JHqKG-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685853452_JHqKG-A-LB)

5.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685852381_SqfLX-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685852381_SqfLX-A-LB)

6.
http://www.ktklassen.com/photos/685852789_fHvuJ-L.jpg (http://www.ktklassen.com/Family-and-Wedding-Photography/The-Eimers/10019139_S3VGX/1/#685852789_fHvuJ-A-LB)

[mathogre]

Those are great photos! Mom and Dad should be *very* happy with those. Whatever you did worked. I would say however I'd want one where all four are together and I can see their faces.

I'm not a pro, so take these thoughts in that context. A month or two ago I took photos of my 10 y.o. daughter and 5 y.o. niece. In 70 shots I had 2 that were the good ones. Some of the shots were taken with them simply playing. Some were with them sitting on the couch, which I told them would be for the "nice" photos. I got them to sit together, without exactly posing them. The play time got them to work together and be comfortable with the camera. That seemed to me to make it easier to take the nice photos. On the other hand, play time can easily get out of control, and is probably only practicable if you have time. If you're pressed for time, then that's often a losing formula with kids anyway.

Great set!

[TheHoff]

I think you did really well. I wouldn't have thought he was difficult by the look of your last few photos and that is all that matters.

Only thing I hate is the huge watermark.

[CanadianKitKat]

Thanks for the comments. I do have a bunch with the four of them, just haven't finished processing them all yet. I'll post a few shortly when I get them done.

[TheHoff]

4 lights? or 3 and a reflector?

[CanadianKitKat]

4 lights? or 3 and a reflector?

Two lights and one reflector. Would like a couple more to play with but I've been too busy spending all my money on horse stuff instead of photography stuff ;) I really need at least one hobby that's cheap I think....