Years ago, I decided that I wanted to improve the photos I take of kids - a skill set in and of itself. Understanding how to get a small person to engage with the camera isn’t for the faint of heart or those easily given to frustration. I thought it would also help with future family shoots.

Fortunately, my oldest sister married an awesome guy and they decided to do their part repopulating the earth. Thanks to their baby-making, I had ready-made subjects to work with that didn’t come with the stress of, ‘if you mess this shoot up, you won’t get hired again.’ Plus, when I took good photos of my nieces and nephew, they’d end up in our family photo albums.

Each time I visited home, I’d bring my camera out for excursions to the playground, hiking, backyard activities, and the occasional dog walks. Not to mention family reunions. During our last, my cousins had decided to make wee ones meaning more little people to work with!

Over the years, I’ve learned, if you can find some way to have kids be ok with you and your camera in a short period of time before working with them, you are golden. Keep it simple. Sometimes I’ll do peek-a-boo with the camera so they know it’s me disappearing behind it. Barring being unprofessional during shoots, I’m happy to make an ass of myself if it gets them smiling. There are times when that’s not required because they look peaceful or it’s a more serious pose–aka they are a sleeping baby.

To finish this off, I have to say thanks to my sister, her husband, and my cousins for mating and reproducing. You all are raising some awesome kids, and I’ve loved being able to shoot with them as they’ve grown up.

Be Funkful and multiply!

Dear Reader, that catchy closing line is under construction as being Funkful doesn’t always guarantee multiplying or it may endure the test of time, stay tuned, dun dun dun