Imagine being given 20, 40, 60 instructions in the course of an hour.
Look here!
Smile baby, smileeeeee!
Dancing time.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
Don't run there, that's too dangerous.
Sing your favourite song.
What's your name? Tell her your name!
And so on and on.
Exhausting right? Shoots are draining for most adults, imagine the sensory overload for the child. Even just typing out that list was overwhelming for me.
It’s no wonder people think screens are to be whipped out whenever the child has a big moment. Whenever children do not cooperate and show their feeling of feeling out of control.
As a mother, of course I have my own values surrounding screens. And I don't expect that other parents align to my personal views. To each his own and what works for whom.
As a photographer, here is my opinion on screen usage during shoots.
It's important to first acknowledge that screens have become an extension of us as individuals. Most adults own a phone and the age at which children have access to screens has reduced massively. Children as young as 2 can navigate a TV remote or phone with the ease that shocks anyone in their 30s who grew up virtually without screens.
So I know it's a given that screens will show up in shoots that involve kids. It actually doesn't happen as much as I thought it would. Have parents used screens during shoots, yes. Have I required a screen to get my job done. Never.
It is my observation that once the screen is introduced, it takes far more effort to take it away and pull the child into the shoot experience than if there was no screen to begin with.
Photographers have a lot of tricks up their sleeve to be able to work with the kids energy, to find out what they like and how to get them comfortable for the shoot. Most specialised kids photographers will carve out time to get to know the child and to engage them in a way suited to their age.
What I do is show up earlier than the shoot time to talk to the parents and then slowly have the child get used to me. (I will talk more about the social behaviour of children and how I engage with children in another post). As we approach the shoot time, I allow for the child to explore in their own unique way and capture the reality they live in.
Shoots are supposed to capture a beautiful moment in time. This is your chance to let the photographer direct the experience and for you to just connect and enjoy time with your little family. If you aren't sure whether to introduce a screen or not, ask your photographer first. I am pretty sure you will not need one in order to get amazing photos of your family. And your child.
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