~Tips on Photographing Children ~storytelling portrait photography book
I was honored to be interviewed by baystateparent magazine about tips on photographing children in a fun and stress-free way I could share with their readers. This coupled with my book on Storytelling Portrait Photography – How to Document the Lives of Children and Families has been helping families and photographers photograph children and help them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. I love offering a more relaxed and stress free approach to photographing them and it shows in my style of photojournalistic photography.  This helps to capture everyone more naturally and who they really are. It’s no longer “say cheese” and look at the camera. It’s about those moments of laughter, hugs and even those quiet little moments in between that are being framed, hung on walls and treasured in photographic albums in homes across the world.  I was blessed to a staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass from 1995-2005. This amazing experience taught my eye to capture the unexpected while creating beautiful images that I capture today for families from all across New England.

Favorite tips I offer to photographing children …

• Let your children have fun and be themselves
• Don’t worry about them looking at the camera
• Give them something to do: throw leaves, eat watermelon outside, blow bubbles, take them jokes to make them giggle and for young children playing peek-a-boo is great too.

• Let them be natural. What do they like to do? Are they into a sport, swinging, dancing or picking flowers…capture them doing that.babystateparent
• Include their favorite toy or stuffed animal
• If you want a nice smile, don’t ask them to say, “Cheese!” Have them say “spaghetti” or “zucchini” this will provide a more natural smile and create giggles.
• Avoid nap time, lunch time, and times of day when your children are not in their best moods.
• Get the family pet involved, which makes everyone behave more naturally.
• Bribery? It’s OK,  Whether is a special trip to get ice cream after their session or even as simple as some stickers
• Don’t force your children to get their pictures taken. As any parent knows, the more you try to get them to do something, the more they resist,  If you have an idea in your head and it doesn’t work, move on.
• For siblings, give them something to sit on or in. I’m famous for my little red wagon. It’s the best investment I got 15 years ago.

watermelon photography

Here are some favorite images that are featured in my Storytelling Portrait Photography book.
Check out the book for the behind the scenes info on how each image was captured.

storytelling portrait photographer pet photography

Are you looking for tips on how to photography children in a fun storytelling way?  Paula Ferazzi Swift of Paula Swift Photographing, Inc in Sudbury, Massachusetts offers beautiful outdoor children photography in Wellesley, Framingham, Sudbury, Weston, Marlborough, Southborough, Northborough, Holliston, Boston, Shrewsbury, Sherborne,  Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Brookline , Cambridge, Natick, Medfield or in Metrowest ? Outdoor photography sessions are perfect to capture this little moments family and children share with one another.  Please visit Paula Swift Photography – www.paulaswift.com to find out more information about booking a outdoor fall family photography session. Paula Ferazzi Swift is a Master Photographer and a Certified Professional Photographer with over 23 years of professional photography experience. Featured as Boston’s Best Family Photographer by CBS Boston in 2015, Paula Swift Photography offers creative, story-telling and beautiful images of children and families. Paula Ferazzi Swift is the Author of Storytelling Portrait Photography – How to Document the Lives of Children and Families which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and your local book stores.

Paula Swift Photography will come to your home or yard to captured your children and family in beautiful and storytelling way. The Wayside Inn Grist Mill in Sudbury, Mass. is also an amazing location for your professional photography sessions. For a small donation of $25 we that goes to the Wayside Inn Organization, we can book your session for this beautiful and historical location. Paula Swift, a former staff photojournalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Worcester, MA also holds two college degrees in the field of photography. Paula Swift Photography has won awards for her newborn, baby, children, family, maternity and high school photography through the Professional Photographers of America, and Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts . You will find Paula Swift Photography’s beautiful new studio in Sudbury MA just about 20 miles west of the city of Boston. Paula Swift also travels throughout Massachusetts and New England for on location sessions.

Paula’s photography specialties include maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography, children photography, family photography, high school senior photography engagement photography, sports photography, and freelance photojournalism. Boston Family Photographer, MA Child Photographer and Award-winning Boston Photojournalist, Paula Swift Photography offers a wide range of photography skills for all her sessions. “Paula Swift Photography the best photography in Sudbury MA – Metrowest Boston.” Choose a Professional Photographer with Experience and Skills to capture your special memories. 2014 Photographer of the Year Bronze Medalist by the Professional Photographers of America. www.ppa.com