How to Get Your Kids to Look Into the Camera

I can’t take credit for this, but at a recent family portrait with the O’Donovan family, Rory revealed to me the ultimate lesson in how to get your kids to look into the camera. I’ll be using this little tip for every family portrait going forward. A tiny trick for maximum camera eye contact in today’s blog post.

Family posed for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

I’m not a fan of stiffly posed portraits, but I know every parent out there wants at least one photo of the entire family looking into the camera at the same time.  Short and sweet: the answer is to use your cell phone to its best advantage. All kids, and for that matter all adults, are fascinated by the flickering images found on cell phones. Why not put this technology to work and strategically place the cell phone so that it looks like the children are looking directly into the lens while they are actually enjoying cartoons? Why I didn’t think of this before is beyond me.

What would normally take about 15 minutes to get a perfect shot of the kids looking in the same direction happened within minutes thanks to a video of a bunny. Now of course, the kids did not remain looking at the video for very long. In fact, little Claire wanted to grab the video and pet the bunny that was leaping across the screen a few minutes after this shot was taken, but I got about eight fantastic photos before both children grew distracted. That’s success in my book.

Here is the set up shot:

Cell phone positioning for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

And here is the resulting shot:

Family portrait on couch of father, mother, and two kids for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Note the cell phone is strategically angled using a book.  Not pictured, is me peering with my camera directly over the cell phone so that I line up the eyes of the children with my lens.  Rory and Francesca thankfully stifled their laughter as I clicked away getting shot after great shot.

And here’s what happens when you don’t have a cell phone handy:

Family posed for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera
The struggle is real.

Seriously, Rory is a genius. Thank you, O’Donovan family for making my job as a family photographer easier!

Lest you think I have abandoned my documentary-style roots, please enjoy these additional great images from the O’Donovan family portrait.  I’ll have more blogs in the coming year.  Happy new year to you all!

If you would like to see more images for my family photojournalism portfolio, then please visit my website — www.KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com


Child holding Christmas lights for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Family reading for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Father and daughter for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Child with leaf for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Child with leaf for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Family in leaves for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Family in leaves for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Mother and son for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Father and daughter for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Child with acorn for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Father and son for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Mother and daughter for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Family walking for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Father and son for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

Family portrait for article on how to get your kids to look into the camera

 

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