Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Secret to Photographing Two-Year-Olds

This weekend Honey Daddy was providing support for a programming contest at the University. Consequently he came home late most of the week, and Friday and Saturday I was pretty much on my own with the boys.

Let's just say that by Saturday the boys and I needed to get out an DO something. We were a little tired of being in the house together. So we decided to go for a drive and find some pretty leaves to collect and do some rubbings with.

On the off chance that the boys might actually be feeling photogenic, I dressed them in the same clothes I had chosen for our family photos a week ago. We didn't really get a chance to take individual photos of the boys last week because our family photos didn't exactly go well.

Eli was fresh from his nap, so he was happy and playful. I got some really nice pictures of him while we played in the leaves. He is so easy to photograph right now. Here are a few of my favorites:

Eli thought the leaves were very interesting. He kept picking them up and crunching them in is hands (having already decided they didn't really taste good).

And remember the grouchy boy who refused to smile or cooperate when we did family photos? Well apparently we left that boy at home because I actually got a few nice photos of Jonah. It was still a bit of a challenge because he would NOT HOLD STILL. He was running around in the leaves like a miniature tornado.

Then I figured out the secret! I know what to do to get a two-year-old to hold still for photos. All you have to do is put him in a tree.

Look! He really DOES know how to smile!

Then all you have to do is tell him that you will let him come down as soon as he gives you a nice smile. Actually, Jonah asked me to put him up in the tree... but it sure did help him hold still for a moment.

We had a pretty good time playing in the leaves. Jonah loved the way he could kick them around and listen to them crunch under his feet. He kept moving from one big pile of leaves to another. Check out the smile on this boy.

Maybe we should invite this boy to come take family photos with us next time, huh?

We didn't end up doing leaf rubbings until this afternoon. Jonah didn't quite understand the idea behind what we were doing. He wanted to actually color on the leaves instead of putting them under the paper we were coloring on. We had a good time nonetheless. Here are the finished products. Jonah's is on the left (he had a little help), and mine is on the right.

This was a fun Fall art project, and we'll have to do it again next year.

23 comments:

  1. I love your secret for getting toddlers to smile! I will have to try that, but somehow I think my girly would just end up screaming :)

    What a cute little smile he has, maybe you can photoshop these pictures into the other ones?

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  2. You sure do have some cute lil' ones. Your baby with his fuzzy hair reminds me of my cousin when he was a baby. Couldn't get his hair to lay flat no matter what!

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  3. those came out great... my secret for photographing my 2 year old (well almost 2 year old)... don't expect him to stand still and just take the pics (o:

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  4. Those are great pics! I have such a hard time getting my boys to smile too--now they want to make faces at the camera.

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  5. The tree thing works for older boys too!

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  6. Great ideas! And your pictures turned out great!!

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  7. Eli's hair is too cute. great pictures!! :)

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  8. Cute pictures - you did a great job! I will have to remember the leaves idea for when my little one gets older. I have a feeling we will need lots of ideas to keep him entertained!

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  9. Great photos!! Leaves are wonderful, my youngest absolutely loves everything about them. I have photos of him at about the same age as your little one that are very similar. Now he wants to create huge piles and jump in them.

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  10. Wonderful pics of the boys. Such little cutie pies.

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  11. What adorable pictures! Those are the cutest boys! You're such a fun mom.

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  12. that is a great idea for a project, Hayden is going to love that. Thanks for the reminder and I love the pictures.

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  13. They are so cute (not that you don't already know that)! I'll have to try the tree trick for my 2yo. I may try the leaf rubbing with her too. She might enjoy it!

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  14. very cute pictures! i guess i needed a tree today at the pumpkin patch to get a good one of james. ugh. these boys...

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  15. Looks like a fun day - really great pictures, too. Your boys are super-cute.

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  16. I so understand the need to get out of the house! lol I love the little leaf rubbings - I know those days are hectic when they are little, but I miss doing those things! :)

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  17. Fabulous photos. Fall makes a wonderful back drop. The boys are growing handsome.

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  18. Very cute pictures! I think that the tree thing is a great idea! Your boys look like they are full of mischief- which is the cutest look for me!

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  19. Your photos look great. I think I may be fired from being your photographer, you really don't need my help on these at all. But, "You've got mail"

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  20. How smart, Jonah does have a nice smile after all. What a good mommy to figure that out. Now you'll have to print out a 5x7 of each and send them to me!

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  21. Good advice as my son will be 2 next week. I'll find a tree to plop him in soon! :-)

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