As school has come back into session, I’ve noticed that the teachers are asking the kids to take part in setting the ground rules. I love this idea. I think we can all remember as kids what it felt like to be “bossed around,” and to not be in control of our lives. I can’t say those times were fun for me. It even made me want to misbehave because I wanted to have a say in how I would live my life.

I’ve taken that notion forward with me into adulthood. I find that people of all ages, everywhere, want to feel like they’re in control. I’ve learned to make my goals known, and let people figure out how they might be able to help me reach them. This is one of the ways I’ve been able to have so much fun with kids in photography. I let them know that I have plans to take their picture, and I ask them to help me come up with a way for us both to have fun in the process.

I remember during one session, a little boy I was working with decided he wanted to go to the basement of his house. I could tell he was trying to be difficult because he didn’t really want to have his picture taken. His mom and I had planned on outdoor pictures, but there was time to be flexible with him, so I decided to go with it and give him some control. I asked him what was in the basement, and discovered that it was full of toys. So, I grabbed a light, followed him down the stairs, and lo and behold we came out of that basement with some of my favorite pictures from that year! Later, we had a chance to head out to their back yard for more pictures, and everyone was happy.

Listening to children and giving them a little bit of control can be a great way to get them to relax and share their spirit with you. Do this when your camera is out, and the difference in your pictures will really shine through.

These kids are so fun! They love adventure. They love to be silly. They live life without reservation. Their home allows them to live fully, and inspires me to bring that energy into my life. These kids are not self-conscious. They live big and true. They love to hate each other, and because they do that so well together, they love each other. Their life is colorful and adventurous, caring, in touch with nature, appreciative, and exciting. They experience a full range of emotions and experiences. They have compassion for animals, eagerness for excitement, and a taste for adventure. They just want to enjoy themselves – it’s as simple as that.

These kids represent freedom! They have room to run – both in their physical life and in their spirits. They don’t feel self-conscious because it doesn’t even cross their minds to think of it. They are living perfectly, in their inherent perfection. They serve as a wonderful example for all of us by saying or doing whatever moves them. And no matter what, it’s always just right.

The day we shot our photos it was wet and rainy. They didn’t care. Nothing can stop them from living out their true identities because they are so deeply in touch with themselves. They don’t need labels or expectations. They just are who they are. And it’s beautiful.

They are fun and happy kids, and their mom allows them to express themselves fully. She truly appreciates the qualities that make them so perfect. With such an understanding for who these children are, she feels the need to express their perfection – to amplify it and project it back to herself and to the world. These free spirits are an inspiration to all of us. When I look at these pictures, I literally feel their energy. It’s amazing that we can bring photos of little people around with us and find enlightenment and happiness in their images. It’s the miracle of life.

You’re planning to get your picture taken soon. You have everything ready to go – the appointment is made, and everyone is ready to show up. Except for one thing. What on earth should you wear?

Choosing clothes for a photo shoot can be a real challenge. You don’t really want to go buy all new outfits, but you definitely want everyone to look good! How do you figure out what to dress everyone in? Where do you start?

I would begin with choosing a place to display your finished piece. Too many people start with the photograph and just look around for a place to display it that looks okay. I suggest, instead, you start with the display location that you’re looking to fill, and design your portrait from there.

-       What color is the room?

-       What color are the accents?

-       What textures do you see? Woods? Fabrics? Glossy surfaces?

Once you’ve zeroed in on these features, it’s a lot easier to start choosing your clothes. If your display area has a warm, dark feeling, with heavy textures and earthy tones, you probably don’t want bright blue, red, and green colors with shiny patent leather shoes. You’ll want items like wool sweaters, cotton shirts, furry hats and muted tones throughout. You might want an accent color for emphasis – maybe on the kids so the attention is drawn more to them. Okay, so you have a style you’ve decided on, but how do you choose the colors?

1. Begin with the main color in the room you’ll be displaying the image. Is it white? Is it blue? Yellow? Green? Define the main color and mimic that.
2. Look at a color wheel or some sample color palettes to begin understanding how colors go together. Zero in on the ones that feature your main color
3. Look for patterns in the images you’re finding, and notice which colors are paired with your main color most often. Do you like the look? If you hung your sample image in your chosen display place, would it fit in?

Once you’ve reached this point, you’ve got your colors. Look through your clothes for appropriate textures and colors, and voila! You’ll have your outfit chosen in no time. Chances are good you’ll have some options already in your closet. If you don’t like what you see, at least you know what you need to buy.

Less than a week ago, I went out with a boy, his mother, and two of his friends. The temperature was in the low 30’s, there were snow flurries, and the wind was ferocious. It was picture day. Now, you might think it was a bad day for photos, and we should have rescheduled. But I would have to disagree.

It was an unusually cold day, and ice had formed over all of the puddles from previous rainfall. The kids were freezing, but they quickly found ways to make the day fun. They walked on the ice to see if they could break through it with their weight. They found walking sticks, and began using them to break the ice as they walked by.

Eventually, it became a team project to stop at every puddle and destroy the icy cover together! Kids are amazing in their resilience. Put them in a tough situation, and their adventurous spirit will emerge. Then you make sure you have your camera ready to capture the sparks that are uniquely them.

When our session was all said and done, we wrapped things up, and headed out for hot chocolate and cookies. It was a worthwhile afternoon, with good friends and good fun. You should try it some time.