One of the most common questions I get from photographers is how do you talk to a child? What do you say? Like any thing else it gets easier with practice. The most important thing is to remember the Golden Rule. Treat them like you would want to be treated. Treat them like real people. (They are.) Treat them with respect, but have fun. Don’t be rude. Humor does not have to be rude.
With practice you will develop a routine
or line of conversation that comes naturally. I do talk softly but I try not to raise the tone of voice. I try to keep it calm and relaxed because I want them to be calm and relaxed.
An example is that I have a firm policy that I only photograph good looking and well behaved children. I will explain this to the child with Mom or a group of children in a child care/preschool setting. The exact wording will vary depending upon the reaction I get. After all you are having a conversation with another person. If a mother brings in an older infant in her arms it might go something like this.
I suppose you have heard that I only photograph beautiful children who are well behaved. Well you know you’re OK on the beautiful part. You are the most beautiful baby in the world. You have been hearing that for months. Everyone says it. It must be true. Now we come to the well-behaved part. That should be easy, too. After all, you’re also the perfect baby. Well, there is that one time last month. Yeah, I heard about it. But don’t worry. I would have been mad, too.
You get the idea? The most important thing is that I and any adult within hearing is having fun. I want everyone to smile and relax. This line of talk, good looking and well behaved, also works with a group of toddlers or preschoolers sitting in chairs while we get to know each other. We have to talk about something. This works and it is safe.
Children have questions. Such as how does the camera or the lights work? How does my posing table work? Why is the posing blanket so soft? I sometimes use big words to explain. Then I ask if they know what that word means. If they say, “No”. I then explain the word and ask them if they can repeat it. Many children go home to tell their parents that they learned what a capacitor does, sort of.