Preparing your children for a professional photo session
By Mary Ann Burnside, founder of “Hearts and Minds.”
Visit her web site at Hearts and Minds
Hear her live on Radio AM 1510 Sunday July 18, 2010 or streaming live at Energy Talk Radio
and Spirit Talk Radio
Call in your questions at 617-237-1234
Earlier this year, I thought long and hard about how to prepare my
preschool child for a photo shoot in which she'd be dressed in a
makeshift butterfly outfit (some sheer wings and a tulle skirt over a
leotard). In the end, I decided not to do much at all. What I
learned from this experience, and what I know about my own practice of
trying to connect with joy, seems like it would be worth sharing with
others who are thinking of asking a gifted artist like Andy to capture
their child's precious likeness.
Most children are naturally tuned in to the here and now, dwelling in
the present moment with all they've got (this is why it's so hard to
get them to do what you want when they are relishing their current
activity, which more than likely, they've chosen for themselves).
They are skilled at moving deeply into their experience and at
enjoying it with all of their senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and
taste. In fact, I think the joy in "enjoy" is what keeps them hooked
on the current moment.
Young children exude joy effortlessly, seamlessly. And their joy is
contagious. It's part of what makes them so much fun to be around.
My advice is to help your children connect with their joy, whatever it
is. What are they passionate about? What do they go wild over? We
all have something like this and you probably already know what theirs
is. Once you know your way into your child's joy of being him or
herself, you can invite them into it and sustain their interest by
telling an interactive story during the photo shoot. For example,
does your child adore trucks? Ask him or her to play a great truck
game, which you make up and narrate as you go along: "You're a truck
on a great adventure! You're trying to rescue the little car that ran
out of gas on it's way to _____ " Does your child flip for fairies
like mine does? "You're a butterfly fairy who visits all the flowers
to sprinkle dust that makes them change color. See the color now?
What is it? Can you smell it? Butterfly fairies drink nectar. Are
you thirsty? What's it taste like? ..." You get the idea. And so
will they! Your child might want to take over the narration for
awhile, which is great. The photo shoot will be more engaging for
her, more entertaining for you, and a more authentic expression of her
unique self in this moment, which is something you'll be able to
treasure in all the moments to come.
