Photo Question about getting son to looking at camera

haydensmommy217

haydensmommy217

New member
I have a point and shoot Nixon camera and for the life of me i can't get my 5 year old son to look at the camera longer then a few second always getting the side ways looks like there is something over my shoulder look more interesting look any tips how to get him to look at the camera?
 
Make funny noises? I always say "peek a boo" and can usually get my 3 year old students to at least look in my direction. Have your dh hold a light-up or noisemaking toy behind you. That might work, too.
 
I have them tell me a joke.... or make their silliest face and start shooting a ton... because somewhere in there I'll get a natural smile and them looking at me
 
DS is 6..if I say look at me and smile I get his fake smile. So I just talk to him when I have the camera up..I tell him a joke or I get him to say something funny/gross like "chicken gizzards" or "banana brains"...knock knock jokes work really well...I can always get a real smile that way.
 
great question! It's getting so frustrating that J won't LOOK at the camera...so I have him tell me the alphabet or repeat a tongue twister or a silly sentence that I come up with... and just start clicking away... ;) Good luck!
 
A couple things. I make the dumbest noises - I feel like a fool, but it can help. Sometimes I'll just chat with him to help him forget what we're doing - it helps him relax and I can get a decent shot... Maybe try putting something on the camera that might peak his interest. Like balancing a penny on top of it, or ... idk - anything, lol.

And if all else fails - just take the photo and look back in a few months/years at the silly phase he went though. My oldest used to have the fake cheese smile for a while, and I cut back on photos cuz I really disliked that fake grin. Now I wish I would have snapped even more and just smiled at the phase he went through. My youngest went through a tongue sticking out phase. And now I'm dealing with my oldest getting these weird, strained smiles and my youngest looking off to the right all the dang time while puckering up his lips, lol. It annoys me - but I know in a little while, I'll be able to giggle at this phase and be annoyed by what they're doing next :)
 
A photographer friend of mine will ask literally do Tarzan calls and dance around shaking her booty to get Rachel's attention and make her smile/laugh during photos. It's a definite improvement over the fake smile she's been giving me lately.
 
I hate the fake smile too... She's 7 now. And I remember, at a younger age, I had the same hard time getting her to just look in my direction. My boy is 2 now and the only way I can make him look at the lens is by telling him there will be a ... coming out of the lens (insert: ghost/bird/train,... lol!) I wonder how much longer he will buy that!

What could help at 5 is asking unexpected questions, things they have to think about for a while. Like what is your favorite flower, or other favorites, starting a conversation.
And BRIBING. lol Keep the candy near by! :)
 
Yeah, I think I've tried all these things and then some. My son loves photos of himself making funny faces. I find his smiles are most genuine right after he is done making the face and is laughing/smiling at his own silliness. So I take one silly face photo, following immediately by a smiley one, repeat ... repeat ... repeat.
 
I usually ask where Mommy is. Sometimes I get him pointing at me, but usually right after or before that I get him to actually look.
 
Usually hubby stands behind me and acts foolish to make Aiden smile. At the moment he hates the camera though. I think I've just had it in his face too much and he's all the way over it.
 
I have this problem all the time, especially when I'm trying to catch them doing something. They look at me for a quick moment, but by the time my P&S takes the picture they've looked away. I've never used a DSLR so I can't say for sure, but I think this is one place where they have a definite advantage over point and shoots. From looking at reviews I know my P&S has decent speed, but it's still so slow!

For somewhat planned shots I do something silly. If I'm trying to shoot my kids in the leaves, I grab a handful of leaves to throw at them and count down to the throw to keep them looking at me and ready. Sometimes I shoot before I throw, other times after, and I just keep repeating it until it gets old or I get a couple of good shots. Inside I've thrown stuffed animals (dragging it out with "Who should I throw him at...hmmm...here he comes"), made silly faces and voices, and told them "Do NOT smile! No matter what I do, you must frown!" That last one usually works the best, but I only use it when the picture really matters to me so that I don't wear it out.
 
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