There is an age-old saying – “Never work with children or animals”. Luckily, we’re not one of sayings! At Lightbulb Studio we often find ourselves working with children, whether it be for an education-based photoshoot (such as our recent work for the ACT Government’s Preschool for 3 Year Olds), or a lifestyle campaign for a new development (such as work with the Suburban Land Agency and the development of Jacka). Working with children presents a unique set of challenges, and a deeper understand of how to engage with our talent to create and capture authentic images.
We’re sure everyone can agree – standing in front of a camera can be a daunting experience. Now imagine how daunting it would be if you were 4 years old! Working with children requires a high level of empathy and the understanding that you’ll need to be flexible. Here are some of the ways we work with little people to ensure we capture amazing photos to fit our client’s creative vision
- Slowing down: First and foremost, we slow everything down. Children, especially younger children, don’t respond well to chaos and lots of instructions in a short amount of time. When we plan a photoshoot knowing that children are a part of the creative vision, we always allow for extra time to capture the shot. This way, if our talent needs to take a breather, have a snack, work through a meltdown, or spend some time looking at a dead ladybug, we won’t be chasing our tail trying to catch up afterwards.
- Engaging with children: Children like to be involved! We take the time to introduce ourselves and explain to them what we’re doing. Can they see a photo of themselves on the back of the camera? Absolutely! By engaging with them, asking questions and answering theirs, we build rapport. And this rapport is essential in ensuring children feel comfortable in front of the camera and can be their authentic selves.
- Making it a game: You’ll often see one of us behind the camera, creating games to play with children. These can include fun games such as “Run to Mum/Dad as fast as you can and tackle them” or “Let’s find the rock that will make the biggest splash possible”. By making it a game, and giving children something to focus on, they’ll forget the camera is even there and just have some fun!
- Standing back and letting them do their own thing: This is where the magic happens. If the brief allows it, we will often stand back with a long lens, and just let kids do there own thing. Without the distraction of a camera, or a forced set of shots, children will create some of the most beautiful and authentic photos. Whether that’s a tea party with your boys, or an unprompted cuddle for mum – being an observer is a big part of our job!
At Lightbulb Studio, we have finessed our methods for working with children over many years. We understand that working with children involves a different approach, and we have adopted many different techniques to ensure we get amazing photos, while keeping everyone happy!
Aside from our technique, all members of the Lightbulb team hold a current Working with Vulnerable People card.
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