My children refuse to pose for my camera. Occasionally I’ll get a great shot of them, but it’s only by pure luck that they happened to have stood still long enough for me to get a shot.
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, maybe because I’m a little slow sometimes, but instead of begging and pleading for them to PLEASE JUST LOOK CUTE WHILE MOMMY TAKES SOME PICTURES, I decided to make it a game.
“Hey guys! I have an idea!”
Both Carson and Ella’s ears perked. “What Mommy?”
“Let’s play a game called ‘Photo Shoot!!’ All you have to do is look really cute and I’ll take your pictures! YEAH! And then! Whoever looked the cutest for my pictures will get some m&m’s!”
Sophie’s choice, I KNOW, but obviously I knew going in that they’d BOTH be the cutest, but they didn’t need to know that. Bring on the competition!
It’s amazing what my children will do for the delicious candy that melts in your mouth and not in your hand.
They were paid five m&m’s each.
You’ll have to trust me, but Ella got her candy, too. I guess she figured that since she’d been paid, she didn’t need to model anymore for my camera.
You, my dear, are a FREAKING GENIUS.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Maggie’s little sister =-.
I, too, would do just about anything for a few M&Ms. These shots are beautiful (helps that the models are, too). =>
.-= Stacia´s last blog ..A Mother’s Intuition =-.
Very good idea. Except it seems the M&M’s slogan lies. They do, in fact, melt in your hand.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Bounty, Brawny, No Idea =-.
All great shots. I think my personal faves are #2 and #9.
Oh those EYES!!! Gorgeous!
Now excuse me while I go buy some m&ms…
.-= Marylin´s last blog ..First shot at The Gallery =-.
Your kids have the right idea- photos for m&ms is my idea of FUN!
Bribery works wonders huh?
Cute photos! Especially love the m&m coloured hands!
.-= Lulu´s last blog ..Things I Love Thursday… =-.
Candy bribery is the only way I ever get photos of my boys! An advanced move is bribing them to hug and kiss.
.-= LauraC´s last blog ..Single parenting: day 3 of 7 =-.
Beautiful. Love it.
.-= Kara´s last blog ..Free CookiE Cook Book from Jules Shepherd =-.
hmmm. . . .no m&m’s. Do you think teaspoons of sugar would work?
I keep Smarties in my camera bag. I would highly recommend them over m&M’s b/c they are much less messy, and can be doled out DURING the “photo shoot” without making a mess of anyone’s face/hands/clothing. Anytime a child is not cooperating, I say “who wants candy” and that usually gets them back in line! Then after cooperating for a couple of shots, I hand out 1 smartie each (NOT the whole role) and we continue.
Candy is really their “currency”, isn’t it? =)
.-= Marie Green´s last blog ..Land Line =-.
I ALWAYS bribe my kids w/ chocolate chips for photos. Always.
(They even suggest it now.)
.-= Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt´s last blog ..By the way… =-.
Love it!
My trick right now, which seems to be working (knock on wood), is to ask Alexis to make the craziest face she can as I take a picture and then show it to her on the viewfinder. She cracks up every.single.time. While she’s still laughing, I lightening ninja my camera back into place and try to capture her in full-blown amused mode. Sometimes I’m too late to get the smile, but I usually at least get her eyes instead of the back of her head.
.-= Burgh Baby´s last blog ..The Bomb Went Off and It Was Filled With Glitter and Rainbows =-.
Those pics are too cute! You’re kids need to play with my kids. Dirty faces, dirty hands, John Deere shirts, and big smiles. Life is good when you realize kids are totally washable
I wonder if that same game would work for dirty underwear.
.-= Heather, Queen of Shake Shake´s last blog ..Farewell, Friend =-.
you’re kinda brilliant.
PSST.. it’s almost a tie.. but, Carson wins. By an eyelash
.-= Rachel ~ Southern Fairytale´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Daddy. =-.
I’d say that was worth a few m&ms – so cute.
My trick to get good photos of my kids? I hire my friend Jenn, who takes great photos, but charges slightly more than 10 m&ms.
I’ll try your trick and report back.
.-= Donna´s last blog ..Forty Four =-.
haha, we have been known to use pez… less mess
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Overheard… =-.
My life has changed since I discovered organic lollipops at HomeGoods a few months ago. I don’t feel as guilty when I use them for bribes. AWESOME pics, BTW.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Hey, Soul Sister =-.
I am shocked I haven’t thought about this one. I have the making cleaning up into a game with a timer though. Wonder if my 18 and 19 year olds will go for this, or even my 11 or 13 year olds. May get my almost 4 year old to bite on this one though.
Found you through scary mommy.
.-= Susie @newdaynewlesson´s last blog ..Mistakes Are Sometimes Blessings In Disguise =-.
I can’t BELIEVE I never thought of this. Genius! And they say blogging has no purpose. Fools.
.-= dusty earth mother´s last blog ..The Good Wife Throws the Surprise Party of the Century =-.
My girls always turned on the charm when I brought out the camera. In fact, sometimes if they were crying I would bring out the camera and get an immediate smile!
.-= SeriousMom´s last blog ..Macy’s =-.
Those are some seriously cute kids – I wonder where they get their good looks from? Mommy, perhaps? Methinks, perhaps, that’s so.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..To Hell in a Handbasket =-.
Perfection! Love it. Great shots of the kiddos plus chocolate to boot! Whoot!
.-= Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings´s last blog ..Hello, ladies. . . =-.
I love when we outsmart them. My latest paparazzi ploy is to get pictures of them jumping – off a swing, in mid-air off the monkey bars, off a table…
It is working GREAT – they jump and then want to come see the picture. They are actually begging me to get out the camera…and on the good pictures they say, “mom you need to put this one on the computer”.
Now with the m&m thing I will be unstoppable…ha!
Oh! And the kids look adorable – great pics.
You’re a genius! Now why didn’t I think of that?!
M&M motivation works for lots of things!!
ha! you broke the code!!
I love when we outsmart them. My latest paparazzi ploy is to get pictures of them jumping – off a swing, in mid-air off the monkey bars, off a table…
It is working GREAT – they jump and then want to come see the picture. They are actually begging me to get out the camera…and on the good pictures they say, “mom you need to put this one on the computer”.
Now with the m&m thing I will be unstoppable…ha!