What to do when a child shows up to a photo shoot in costume? The costume, the identity of the day, is very important to the child and they may be very hesitant to remove it....
Batman, aka Henry, came with his parents to my studio last week. As an experienced mother I immediately started calling him Batman which was exactly what he wanted to hear, step one. I ask if he could perhaps demonstrate some flying techniques, something he was thrilled to perform. After a few clicks of the camera and lights, I gently asked him to show me who was under the mask, he pulled it up and with coaxing eventually shed it completely with the cape!
Mom didn't pressure him at all and had brought a white button down shirt for the shoot. Henry liked what he came in but mom asked him if he would like to look like dad in the white shirt, bingo! He agreed and let her change the shirt. It was a fantastic session! Light, lively and captured him perfectly!
As an experienced children's photographer and mother, I had realized that the costume was important and it was who Henry wanted to be for the day. Indulge the need, pay attention and the rest will fall into place! Hours after he left the studio with mom and dad, I noticed the mask was left on my desk, completely forgotten! His mom is coming by in a day or two to pick it up...
