Win the Standoff Before It Starts
Tuesday Photo Tip #2: The Reward Plan
Why a planned reward beats a last-minute bribe, and how to set it up before you leave the house.
You have made the appointment, bought your color-coordinated outfits, and now it is time to pack the kids into the car and put your smiles on. And then it happens.
Your dear, sweet progeny decide they would rather stay in the car. No matter the cajoling, the power struggle is on, and this is when the easy option is "the bribe." Ice cream. The toy store. A coveted video game. YouTube. A crisp Benjamin.
As photographers, we understand "the bribe," but what we have discovered is that "reward" is a better policy. Be clear on your expectations: Explain that it is a short period of cooperation, careful listening, and positive energy. If all goes well, the photographer will be pleased and the earned reward will be forthcoming.
YOUR REWARD GAME PLAN
Timing: Make the deal at home, not in the parking lot. A plan agreed over breakfast works much better than a negotiation through the car window.
Keep it short: Kids can handle almost anything when they know it ends. Let them know it's a quick session, and then it's reward time.
Expectations: Spell out what a "good job" looks like: listen to the photographer, stay close to the family, and bring the happy energy.
Buy-in: Let the kids help pick the reward. They'll work harder for something they chose themselves.
Grown-ups too: Happy energy is contagious, so bring yours. Your reward is the photos.
Pro Tip: Looking for a reward that doesn't come in a wrapper? Get silly! A little playtime between poses resets the mood and gives us some of our favorite shots.
Photographed by Janet Sanchez
That’s Tuesday Photo Tip #2! Your reward for reading to the end? Another quick tip in your right up.
