Photographing kids!

One of the biggest joys as a photographer is capturing a child's personality. However, this isn't always the easiest thing to do. I don't blame the kids though. There they are, with a strange lady standing in front of them and big black box pointed at them. What I have found to work for me is getting the child alone. Kids are always more willing to relax when they can be goofy and tend to cooperate more when they have THEIR time to shine.

Here is Mr. J. He wasn't too sure about me at first.
Then he realized I might actually be a cool person to hang with.
The next thing I know...I have a new friend who loves being in front of my camera.
The other reason I love photographing kids is I get to be a total goof. Which I'm already majority of the time...I'm just a big kid myself. When photographing children, I can be found doing the oddest noises, telling goofy jokes, laughing at goofy jokes, playing hide and seek, and putting rocks on my head.

These little guys LOVE rocks! They thought I was the funniest when I was putting rocks on my head and calling them my rock hat. Here is Mr. J putting rock hats on his brother. I love the look on Mr. C's face. Is he cool or what!?
It's always bitter sweet at the end of a session. I end up saying good bye to new friends and feeling energized from a good workout.