Having small children is exhausting. They have so much more energy than we do. To burn off that energy, we take ours on hikes or swimming or have family dance parties. But then I often say to my husband:
“Tire out the children and you tire out yourself“
But a post I read recently reminded me of some ideas of how to play with your children when you also really, really want to lie down with your eyes closed.
So I present to you: “10 Fun Games for Young Children with Exhausted Parents” – in order of when you’re most tired to least tired
Reverse Bedtime
Reverse bedtime – the kids get to put you to bed. Here’s what you do:
-Lay down in your bed (the most magical instructions of all)
-The kids are in charge of putting you to sleep, they need to bring you blankets and sing you lullabies and tell you a story.
-You can really get into character by asking for water or a bedtime snack or “just three more stories!”
2. Visit the Doctor/Dentist
Besides boxes, rocks and sticks, if it doesn’t have a screen, my kids next most favorite toy is flashlights. For this game you:
-Give the children any flashlights you have in the house
-Lay down on the floor or couch with your eyes closed
-Kids take turns shining a flashlight into your open mouth, into your ears, etc.
-They can also use any doctor kit supplies you may have around.
If your kids are anything like mine, be ready for some hard truths: “Mommy, why are your teeth more yellow than Daddy’s?”
3. What’s on my butt? / What’s on my stomach?
I saw this idea on Say Yes who got it from the Longest Shortest Time podcast (and it inspired this whole blog post of ideas).
-Choose if you’d rather lay on your stomach or your back, eyes closed, no peeking.
-The kids have to slooowly choose objects around the house that they will then either place on your stomach or your butt and you have to guess what they are.
-Take your time guessing.
4. Light show
Flashlights are really wonderful toys. Here’s another idea with them (Pink Floyd soundtrack in the background is optional).
-Turn all the lights off.
-Lay on your back, this time, eyes are open.
-Give the kids flashlights.
-They are in charge of creating a light show on the ceiling, finger shadows are encouraged.
5. Measurement game
-Give the children a ruler and/or measuring tape.
-Lay down with your eyes closed.
-The children are responsible for measuring how tall you are and how long your different body parts are.
If they’re old enough, they can also fill out a data log on you. (ex. Mommy’s feet are 8 inches long, Daddy’s nose is three inches long).
6. Day Spa
-Give the children your hairbrush, and any hair accessories you have on hand.
-Lay back on the couch with your eyes closed.
-They are in charge of brushing and fixing your hair.
-Ooh and ahh when they are done.
7. Guessing Game
-Lay down on your stomach with your eyes closed.
-Have the children trace different letters or shapes on your back.
-You have to guess what they are drawing.
Variation: You can also ask the children to walk on your back.
My niece walking on my husband and sister-in-laws backs one past Thanksgiving visit.
8. Scavenger Hunt
This game may involve a little pre-planning and some talking.
-Give the children a bag and a list of 10 things they need to find around the house (ex. something red, something fuzzy, something magnetic).
-Lay on your back with your eyes closed telling them you are going to count to 200.
-Children need to run around finding all the objects and can’t come back until they’ve found all of them or you reach 200.
9. Art Studio
-Give the children some art supplies, tell them you are going to be a “still life.”
-Lay down with your eyes closed. (The children can feel free to add props on top of you).
-Have the children draw your portrait.
-Hang it up on the fridge when done.
Variation: If you don’t mind getting messy, give the children washable markers to draw on you (another variation is giving children makeup to apply on your face).
10. Erupting volcano
(Requires some movement)
-Lay on your back with your eyes closed.
-The kids are responsible for covering you with as many pillow and blankets they can find in the house.
-When you’re good and covered – ERUPT – and all the pillows and blankets go flying.
-Repeat until they tire of the game.
Be prepared for the children to want a turn as well.
If you are too tired to move, but still want to play with your kids, I hope you find these games helpful.
Happy New Year! Are you a fan of New Year’s Resolutions? I am, I like to think of them as a great time to make a list and plan for the future. I start with the “what.” As in, WHAT do I want to get out of this year?
For me, it’s to learn new skills, grow my business, create often and feel a part of the local community.
Then comes the “how.” As in, HOW am I going to reach these goals? I want to be specific and measurable. Well, here’s what I have in mind…
Join a Creative Community
Join a local creative community and attend 4-6 meetings/year. Some groups I’m considering in the Austin area are: Rising Tide, Creative Mornings, ClickinMoms (I went to a few meet-ups last year – it’s a very friendly bunch), BossBabesATX, ATXconnection mixer. Let me know if you’re a member of any of these groups (or have another one to recommend). Next steps, RSVPing for a January meet-up.
Take photo classes
Take one photo class per quarter (either in-person or online). Some places I’m considering for online classes are Creative Live, Click Photo School and Lynda.com. Next steps, making a list of classes I’d like to take.
Keep doing personal work
Keep doing personal photo work every month. This could be documentary photos of the kids or portfolio building with new locations or ideas I want to try. Next steps, list and calendar out project ideas. (I have that colored powder I bought for the holidays just asking to be photographed with).
Get in the photos
Get in the photo myself – at least once a month. As the family documentarian, I am woefully underrepresented in our year-end albums. I need to give up some of that control and hand over the phone (to family) and hire a professional (at least once a year) so I’m a part of my family’s story. Next steps, book our 2019 family photo session and hand off my phone this week.
Volunteer as a photographer
Volunteer my photography skills to the kids’ school. I plan on (continuing to) photograph the class parties this year as well as donating a family photo session to the school fundraiser. Next steps, think about other ways I can volunteer my photo skills to the school community.
Find better light
It’s safe to photograph in flat light or golden hour. I want to seek out shooting at other times of the day – and play around more with light. This includes: practicing with double exposures, shooting through prisms, and photographing a high noon. Next steps, block out time to experiment with light.
Blog consistently
Most of last year, I would only blog when posting a photo session. But last month, I started writing blog posts with other types of content – Exploring Art in Austin with Kids,Throwback Thursday About Me, and How to Build a Photo Story. And I loved it. So this year, I want to continue that trend (blog family sessions but also write about other photo topics that interest me). Next steps, write out a list of 10-12 topics I want to blog about this year.
Book more Sessions
Last November, I shared some metrics on my Instagram feed. I wanted to look at my numbers around bookings, expenses and profits. One of my take-aways from that analysis is that I’d like to increase my bookings by 10-15%. Next steps, keep learning, shooting and sharing and plan that more business will come.
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What are your goals for 2019? Contact me if they include photography.
My kids know they can make a pretty big mess if there’s picture taking involved. They’re also extra eager if they themselves are the canvas.
So if your kids are like mine, and you’ve booked a Family Photo Session at your house – let me know if you’d like to add on any of these creative extras. As long as you have a change of clothes nearby and a place to make a mess (preferably outside) – we can get extra artistic.
Options include:
Chalk (year-round)
Bubbles (year-round)
Silly String (year-round)
Smoke bombs (year-round – though we’ve only done them at Halloween ourselves)
Cascarones (Spring)
Shaving cream (Summer)
String lights (Winter)
Fake snow (Winter)
Multi-light projector (Winter)
Glitter (Nope) – What am I? A monster. I’d never bring glitter in someone’s house (especially if I wanted to be invited back).
Colored powder – (year-round)
If this type of session add-on appeals to you, let me know when you book.
Working at newspapers (The Daily Texan, The Palladium-Item, and The Newport Daily News) while majoring in photojournalism in college (University of Texas at Austin, 1994-1998) satisfied three things for me:
I got to create on a daily basis.
Every day was different – and I loved the variety.
Having a camera got me access to lots of events and satisfied my curiosity about what was going on around me.
I only went to UT Football games when I got to photograph them.
I’d never been to a Monster Truck rally until I got to photograph this one in Indiana.
So taking what I loved back then and applying it now with family photography…
Creativity = with family photography, I still get to take pictures often (usually weekly)
Variety = Every family is different. I like to explore different locations in and out of town as well.
Curiosity = I get to know people better when they’re in front of my camera.
I also want to take the skills I learned back in college and apply them to how I approach a session right now. A portrait session can tell a family’s story. So what are the five elements to build a good photo story?
ESTABLISHING SHOT: This is where the photo story begins. I like to show the environment the family is in (their home, out in nature or in an urban setting). I imagine this type of image as being the first page spread of a photo book.
I usually shoot these images with a wide angle lens. The establishing shot tells the audience what the setting of the photos will be.
PORTRAITS: These images tells the audience who the cast of characters are. I make sure to get multiple close-ups of each family member by themselves. These can be silly or serious – but meant to capture the personality of each individual.
DETAILS: Supporting images that help tell the story. They might be close-ups on hands or features as well as details on outfits or any props.
INTERACTIONS – Hand’s down – these are my MOST favorite type of image to shoot. Action, reaction and interaction – all to show the relationships between family members. Here’s the heart of the story.
CLOSING SHOT – The image that wraps it all up. It can also be used at the end of the photo album. I prefer something silly or an image that clearly shows the end (ex. people walking away). For the silly ones, 90% of the time, these seem to involve Dads.
Going forward, two of my three packages will include photo book options, and using these five elements will make those story easier to show. It’s all about the characters and their connections in all their combinations.
Do you (or your clients) feel awkward when in front of a camera? You’re not alone. Maybe 20% of the families I photograph are completely comfortable (and will love and snuggle with little prompting at their photo session). But if you find yourself standing there, “What do I DO with my hands?!?” or “What direction should my legs go when I sit down?!?” I’m here to help.
The posing directions I give the most are: “Lean in!” and “Snuggle!” and “Make angles!”
If those posing instructions aren’t enough, I’ll also give playful prompts at family portrait sessions (that you can also use when taking photos of your own kids). My goal is images that show a natural connection.
I’ve split suggestions out by age ranges below:
Age 1-3
Peek-a-boo
Tickle Monster
Make animal noises
Hold kids upside down
Swing kids as you walk
Hold kids up in the air
Play “hug attack” game
Play chase
Play freeze dance
Give Eskimo kisses (nose to nose)
Kids up on Parent’s shoulder
Age 4-9
Make fart noises
Have the parents dance behind me
Joke contest
Reverse Psychology – “Don’t Smile!” “Don’t Laugh” “Oh, no, you’re starting to smile, stop it, stop it, I’ll get in trouble!!”
Have kids race towards me while the parents walk behind
Have a staring contest
Spin around as fast as you can until I say stop
Do silly dance moves
Ask them, “What ideas do you have for a photo?”
Play “two truths and a lie” game
Give me your best fake laugh
Pile all together in one big hug cuddle
Match your breathing with your parents
Play the telephone game or just have them whisper secrets to each other
Age 10-18
I find this age to be the most cooperative – in which case I just talk to them as we photograph and also ask them, “What ideas do you have for a photo?”
I’ll ask about their favorite movie, book or class – what their hobbies are. What’s their dream vacation? What would their ideal day be like? What are they up to that weekend?
I’ll also ask them to imitate the sound of their dad snoring or their mom dancing. Or if that doesn’t get a natural smile, also ask them to give me their best fake laugh.
Couples/Adults
Walk like your hips are drunk but your face is not
Walk like your hips are glued together
Walk like this is the most fun walk you’ve ever been on
Whisper something silly in a sexy voice in your partner’s ear
Don’t break eye contact with each other
I’ll ask them lots of questions as well – “Which one of you would be the first to go sky diving? Who is the better cook? What’s the other person’s favorite food? If you planned a perfect day for them, what would it be like?” etc.
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I hope these ideas help you the next time you’re in front of or behind a camera.
One of my favorite spots on the internet is the Humans of New York Instagramfeed. And while I like his photography, it’s his interviewing skills that bring out moving stories of honesty and vulnerability that I love the most.
When he was asked how he does it, “To get good answers, you have to ask good questions.” To which I’d modify to say, to get good pictures, you have to ask good questions. If his questions can elicit emotion, one of my goals as a photographer is to have photos that elicit strong emotions.
I think the way to start is to ask better questions. Before I lift up my camera with a client, I’ll want to know what is most important to them at this very moment? What do they want to remember about right now?
So here are some things I plan to ask new clients during the booking process (through my client questionnaire) and why I will ask them.
Question: Have you had a chance to look at my website?
Why do I ask? To make sure we’re a good fit before we even start. My ideal client is one who falls in love with my style and wants that type of imagery for themselves. If they’ve seen my blog and galleries and then contacted me, I know we’re off to the right start.
Question: What type of session are you interested in?
Why do I ask? I offer on-location (or in-home) lifestyle portrait sessions for couples and families. If the client is interested in something else (weddings, highly posed newborn shots, etc.) – then I want to direct them to a different photographer that would better suit their needs.
Question: Tell me why you’re getting your portraits taken now?
Why do I ask? If it’s for holiday cards, that lets me know their end goal. If it’s to celebrate a milestone (1st birthday, 10th birthday, etc.), I like to have that background context. Is it a family reunion? I’ll need to plan for plenty of family combinations. Will they be interested in a photo album? If so, I’ll want to make sure to capture extra details and establishing shots to tell the full story.
Question: What most do you want to remember about this time?
Why do I ask? This question gets to the heart of it. To find out what’s most important to them. To capture that feeling.
Question: Is there anything your family/you as a couple especially enjoy doing together?
Why do I ask? So we can incorporate it into the pictures. Either the activity or some object that’s meaningful to that couple or family.
Question: Do I have your permission to post to social media?
Why? Because a Person’s or a Parent’s privacy preference is always paramount.
Question: What makes your kid laugh / What is your kid interested in these days?
Why? I like to ask kids lots of questions when I’m photographing them – so it’s great to have a jumping off point for our topics of conversations.
Last Question: Anything else you want me to know before our shoot?
Why? This is when I might find out their kid hates getting their picture taken or that Grandmas is also coming to the shoot to help (and to add her in to some pictures), etc. The more info, the better I know their story to tell.
The rest of my questions tend to center around logistics (What part of town do you live in? Do you prefer a natural or urban setting? Do you need suggestions on What to Wear? etc.) And if we don’t get to all of these questions before your session, I’ll ask as we go along during your shoot.
Having small children is exhausting. They have so much more energy than we do. To burn off that energy, we take ours on hikes or swimming or have family dance parties. But then I often say to my husband:
My kids know they can make a pretty big mess if there’s picture taking involved. They’re also extra eager if they themselves are the canvas.
