A session with your child or children can feel stressful. As well as making sure everyone has the right outfits and everyone can make the date you have that extra worry of will the children behave?

In our experience it is the parent’s worries that usually make for worried children. So let me re-assure you now everything will be fine.

Make sure your children know they are coming to a photoshoot and they are going to have a good time. Explain that you want nice pictures for yourself and relatives.

During the shoot itself, don’t worry about your children. If you are relaxed they will be too. In particular, when required you have to keep smiling at the camera regardless of what your children are doing.

Of course, you might want to offer a little bribe for the sake of good photos. It might be some sweets, some cash, a new toy, some extra TV time or a little treat out afterwards.

In the shoot, always use the bribe positively, “remember we are going to PlayTown afterwards if you are good.” But don’t say “that’s it, no PlayTown for you!” – once the bribe is taken away it doesn’t work anymore.

Generally kids are great in the studio, we treat them as though they are special and often the images of them messing around will be your favourites. The only time we might play Mr Grumpy is if they are likely to get injured or are too close to the equipment, but that is very rare. Normally we are very relaxed around children.