When I get ready to photograph a child, I get into my pre-established menu and I press the option “children”. Seriousness, hurry, discouragement and sense of ridicule are deactivated; and patience is selected to a maximum level. Now programmed, ready to play, to sing, to paint, and whatever is necessary, we undertake the photographic sessions of babies and children.
We start slowly, with the help of an assistant or the parents, without oppression, without forcing any situation, very tactfully and with a big smile. Every child is a challenge because they are the ones in control. They impose the rhythm of the work and they will allow you to take photos of them until they decide otherwise. Children collaborate as long as they find what they are doing entertaining, and one has to employ the different resources which are going to keep the child entertained while you are taking the photos.
Although they might find it difficult to be themselves at the beginning, it is well known that once a child is in their element, they cannot be contained. Parents who at the beginning are not very convinced this is going to work usually end up saying: “stop taking photos of the child because it is going to take forever to choose them”.