Updated October 13, 2026
To get kids to sit still and smile for photos, be prepared before you bring them in, then stop saying “smile” and engage them with a song, a clap or a tickle attack. I’m Katie Donnelly, a Paris family photographer, and this is the tip parents ask me for most.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
Step 1: Be Prepared
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were just some magic ‘sit still and smile’ beans for photographing your kids?
But alas, there aren’t! (Unless you know of some blue genie with Robin William’s voice who we can make some wishes to?)
My BIGGEST tip for getting kids to sit still is to BE PREPARED. Seriously. It sounds totally dumb but preparation for the ultimate shot is so important.
- WHERE are you going to do it?
- Can you SAFELY do it? (Please don’t put your newborn in your 3 year old’s lap without supervision!)
- HOW is the lighting? If it’s high noon and the sun is shining it’s NOT ideal to put all your kids together and expect them not to squint or be bothered with the light.
- How are the kids’ moods? Is your 1 year old about to go down for a nap? Make sure, especially if you have kids that are at more difficult ages, that they are in good moods!
- Is your camera set up and ready to shoot?
After you’re set up and prepared, it’s game time.
Step 2: Stop Saying “Cheese” and Engage
I’m not about to tell you that there’s an easy way to have your kids all sit there and smile at you like the little angels they aren’t.
Getting a sitting and smiling shot with little kids takes time and PATIENCE. Stop saying “smile!” and “Cheese!” It doesn’t work when you have a 9 month old crawling around and your 4 year old getting bored and wanting to play with his Legos.
You need to be quick and ENGAGE.
What can you say to engage your 4 year old while keeping your 9 month old still (and happy)?
Can you sing a song together? Clap hands? Go in for tickle attacks?
How can you engage them in a positive and fun way? (Yelling and scolding doesn’t work with kids and getting happy photos. If you’re happy, they’re happy. If you’re yelling at them to smile, they sure as hell won’t do it.) Engaging them positively also gives them a positive association with photos so that next time, they aren’t expecting a time out along with a photo, they’re expecting to sing a song or have fun. They’ll look forward to it and maybe even have some fun ideas of their own for cool photos!
Good luck!
This lesson is part of The Authentic Portrait: A Parent’s Guide to Documenting Childhood, my photography guide for parents who want to learn the basics and take better photos of their kids, without spending hours and hours taking classes. I am working on a new edition of the guide. Until it is ready, you can read every lesson in The Authentic Portrait series.
Next lessons: my tips for photographing kids, get down on their level, 3 tips for capturing kids in motion, and how to pose families naturally.
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Questions About Getting Kids to Smile for Photos
Stop saying “smile” and “cheese”. Engage them instead: sing a song together, clap hands or go in for tickle attacks. Real smiles come from having fun.
Prepare everything first: the spot, the light and your camera settings. Then bring your toddler in when they are in a good mood, and be quick.
When they are rested and fed, not right before a nap. Avoid high noon, when bright sun makes everyone squint.
Yelling and scolding does not work for happy photos. Engaging kids in a positive, fun way also gives them a good association with photos, so next time they look forward to it.
“She did a fantastic job wrangling our group of 8 (4 teenagers) in 26 degree weather! My mother was beyond delighted when she received the canvas and book from our trip.”
Melanie L., family photoshoot
5-star Google review
About the author
Katie Donnelly, Paris Photographer
Katie Donnelly is an American photographer who opened her Paris studio in 2013 and was voted Best Portrait Photographer in Paris in 2017. She and her English-speaking team photograph families, couples and solo travelers at sunrise, so visitors go home with relaxed, real portraits instead of rushed selfies. Meet Katie and the team.
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