5 TRICKS TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR COSTUME CALD KIDS

Parents are staggeringly good at stressing out over photographing their kids on an ordinary day, but add in candy and costumes? Forget holding it together.

The Halloween photo you envision isn't going to happen gracefully, so accept what unfolds naturally or try something different. And that's where I come in—giving you some of my go-to tips for photographing authentic interactions.

NOTE: The children pictured here ARE NOT MODELS. Nope. Regular kids volunteered to throw on their costumes and play for 30 minutes. And if I can wrangle 6 kids and a toddler, you can photograph your kids.

But, if you run into any roadblocks or breakdowns, DM me on Instagram, and I'll troubleshoot with you.

1)  Make it a game
Many times we parents get very serious about our picture taking. When this happens, our children start seeing the camera as a taskmaster and suddenly, what seemed like fun is now a chore. Instead, help build up the little photoshoot as a fun event. Give them an excuse to act the part and ask them to show you how well they can zombie it up!

Play with them! Don’t sit behind the camera the entire time. Grab a few pictures, goof around with them, and then grab a few more.

PRO TIP: The more they’re engaged, the more authentic your pictures will be.

Years from now, those candid pictures will likely be your most treasured.

2) Photograph them when they are their most excited about Halloween
(hint: the peek may not fall on Halloween)

Often I see the thrill of getting a costume on loses its luster by the time Halloween night rolls around. There are parties and parades and mini-fashion shows — our kids wind up wearing their costumes several times before they go out trick-or-treating.

Be ready to get pictures when your kids are at their happiest; I’ve noticed the excitement is at a high right after we buy the costume. If it’s not an elaborate costume, let them try it on and grab some fun photos of the enthusiasm! This will guarantee that you at least have some happy pictures of your kids in costume.

When you get the full costume early, you can focus on grabbing the details of Halloween (eating their first piece of candy or setting off with empty buckets and flashlights).

3)  Be ready to switch gears
We’re talking about kids here, and every parent knows flexibility is critical.

Photographing your kids is the most important time to let things go. If you want to get your little bee to sit still, but she refuses, step back and think of a different way you can photograph her. Maybe you need to dance to make her relax and laugh or ask her to help you find a good spot to take the picture.

Photography (as with parenting) is not the time for rigidity. If it's not working, take a break, photograph a sibling, distract them, or pack it up and try another day.  

Shifting gears is often the answer to getting the pictures you want.
(Just don’t let your little bee know what you’re doing!)

4) Fill your photos
(Hands down my favorite pro tip!)

Think about what you want your pictures to say. I like my photos to tell a story, so I always try to incorporate as much as I can into each frame. If I’m photographing Green Lantern’s glowing ring, I might have his cat sister dance in the background. Think about packing as much as possible into each picture. Group shots that focus on one person are a great example of layering a photo.  

5)  Get in front of the camera with your kids

I know. We feel disheveled or heavy. But moms, we NEED to get in front of that camera. Figure out your camera's timer or ask a neighbor to photograph the entire family.

Maybe even hand the phone over to the first house your kids to trick-or-treat at and ask them to take a quick picture for you? What a great photo that would make! Especially if it’s your child’s first Halloween (SERIOUSLY... someone please do it and send it to me)!

Here's my biggest and best tip: you can use most of these tricks for any day of the year! If you want more candid, natural pictures of your kids, try implementing a few of these tricks and see what happens. 

P.S. Need for Halloween photo tips? Check out the tips I gave to People magazine: 8 Boo-Tastic Halloween Photo Tips