One great thing about living in the 21st century is the ability to capture memories of all your travel experiences with just one click of a camera. And even though that trip to breathtaking Bali or that Safari adventure was unforgettable on its own, having photos of your vacation there would definitely make things all the more sweeter.
When I was in elementary, my parents would always make me stand next to a stone or a pillar not realizing how famous those landmarks were. Looking back through those old family photo albums, it dawned on me that I was almost always frowning or had a celebrity smile on. By celebrity smile, I don’t mean pearly white teeth with an Oscar in hand. It’s that fake smile that works well with the camera’s flashes. As I grew older, I developed a fairly good relationship with the lens and my pictures more or less represented how much fun I was having.
Still, I find myself thinking back to those old pictures. While there are kids (like my sister) who genuinely love the camera, there are those who dislike being told to pose and smile next to a creepy-looking statue. Teasing them about having stiff smiles isn’t exactly too encouraging either.
“Hurrah!!!”
For parents who are having trouble coaxing smiles out of their little angels, perhaps a change of perspective from your side will help. Pictures don’t have to follow the same format or staged. In fact, some of the best family pictures are those of candid moments. Allow your children to enjoy themselves and wait for the opportune moment before clicking away. Not only will you be able to bring home a real smile, you’ll also capture a once in a lifetime moment.