DS4 won't take pictures!!!

[PrincessV]

To be specific, he'll be in the picture.... but only if he's facing away from the camera, covering his face! I fancy myself something of a photographer, so this is wreaking havoc with my trip plans for next weekend. Does anyone have experience with this? Were you able to turn your little one around? (both literally and figuratively!)

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I don't have a little one as I am a teenager but for about 3 years I would never do it. Now I look back at pictures of other family members with pictures with or without characters and I feel like a valuable piece of my childhood is missing! I remember being told about characters, they won't hurt you, they love children, he's the one from your favorite movie, etc. but I wouldn't give in. I have no idea if anything will do it. I was just stubborn (heck, still am!) and wouldn't give in at all! I've just realized that posting this has no point since there is no advice here but I fear that you may just have to let the phase pass; however, we have brillinat back up here at the DIS so I'm sure better ideas will come!

Best of luck and have fun on your trip!

 

[PrincessV]

LOL - I NEVER went near a Character untl I had DS and HAD to be in the pic because he was only 11 mos. old and I had to hold him next to Dopey! I totally know where you're coming from.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Well, you could try a "rewards system" (which many call bribes...but hey, if it works...lol). My kids are super into pin trading. Thus, if I want them to try something new (that they are hesitant to try), then I will offer them a pin related to whatever it is I want them to try. For example, if you want your kiddo to have his picture taken with Goofy, he can earn a Goofy pin (or other small item of Goofy merchandise) for being in the picture.

Please no flames for the bribery issue...you can make this more about rewards than bribes...I just outlined it like that here for ease of understanding.

However, you may want to get at *why* he is so hesitant to get his picture taken. What is his reasoning here?

Another idea--before you go, buy a cheap disposable camera and see if he wants to take pictures around the house, etc. He might really take to it! And once he likes taking pictures, he'll probably like being in pictures. If he is a responsible kid, you can let him try your camera around the house--especially if it is digital--he'll love seeing the pictures immediately. HTH!

 

[minkydog]

Is this his way of saying "enough pictures"? I wonder if he feels annoyed or invaded by all the picture-taking. Some kids do

 

[emma'smom]

My dd won't smile for professional photos and/or the ones that CM's take. Every picture we have that is a formal shot, she is frowning or crying. However, she cheeses up big smiles for our digital camera all they time. We think she may not recognize the shape of bigger, fancier cameras.....and doesn't like to wait for the "shots" to be set up. We mostly do candids with our little digital....

Candids may be your way to go!

 

[Vickie46]

my daughter does fine for me.. but not as good for someone else.

 

[Stitchfans]

Sometimes the best pictures are the ones that weren't actually posed for. just snap away while he is interacting with the characters or just having a good time.

 

[DizChick05]

Let the phase pass. candid photos are great. Maybe ask him why he doesnt like pictures

 

[maxtomsmom]

Sometimes the best pictures are the ones that weren't actually posed for. just snap away while he is interacting with the characters or just having a good time.

ITA! My older son hates and I mean hates getting his picture taken. What cracks me up is he wants to be on TV and in magazines. (He has a best friend who does a lot of modeling and tv work). We go for the candid, the hugs and occasionally we get a right on smile. My son hates the flash and he will undoubtably close his eyes for each and every shot. Nothing, and believe me we tried it all, works. So we made peace with it and not let it ruin the moment. One day when he asks, why aren't there any pics of me smiling, we'll tell him. Payback time then. Seriously, I understand your frustration. One thing that sometimes works is if I take a picture of you, you can take one of me agreement. Like I said it sometimes works. Good Luck!

 

[Plantlady]

My four year old goes through spells where he hates having his photo taken (I take tons of photos of the kids). I just let it pass. One day he likes it, one day he doesn't.

I imagine it is just a phase for your child. When you look back on your vacation photos years from now, you'll get a kick out of the fact that you only have the back of his head.

 

[MissyPrissy]

Hi there!! My step son is also 4 and he went through a phase where he was being a stinker about being in pictures. The more attention you give him about it and the more you beg him to "please smile" the more attention he is getting and the more he will act up. It's become an attention seeking situation and it seems to be working!! I'll tell you what worked with for us...

this is only my opinion of course...(little disclaimer!)

Seeing as how TJ is only four, I do understand being silly and not wanting to stand still, but really we aren't asking all that much of him. When comes down to it, he is being given a direction to stand still and smile for a couple of pictures. He can totally handle that. If he refuses and hides his face or frowns at the camera, he is being defiant and he gets a consequence for it. He is promptly removed from the picture, placed in time out and is not given another second of attention for inappropriate behavior. Pictures keep going, his sister is praised for doing a good job etc. When it came time for more pics, if he continuted to act up, same situation. Removed from the action and bad behavior ignored. It wasn't long before TJ wanted to show us how big HIS smile was. When he realized that acting up was only going to result in a consequence and being left out of the fun he changed his attitude promptly. When his dad and I got married this August he posed and smiled his four year old head off. He did GREAT!!! Bottom line is he needs to do as he is asked. It's not his choice to ruin pictures. Asking him to pose for 10 pictures in a row would be too much, but just a few is totally acceptable. He needs to follow directions cuz at 4, that is his job. Anything else is not okay.

I just have to say in sort of a tangent, that I was APPALLED at some of the behaviors I saw at WDW...kicking screaming fits, kids hitting their parents, talking back, saying no...the whole gamut of misbehavior. And it always seemed to be the kids who had a balloon and stuffed Mickeys and candy and every other thing their little heart desired. It's not fun for the parents or the kids when they act that way and letting them act that way is doing them a total disservice...but then that is the social worker in me. Anyhow...just my two cents!

 

[pixiewytch]

I just wanted to say that my four year old does the same thing. I always feel like the bad mom because I never have any cutesy WDW photos of the family together. Most of the pictures are just of me because DH is behind the camera and the little one won't get in the photo.

I'll definitely consider some of the suggestions given here though for our upcoming trip. We need to get some more candid photos I guess.

 

[makinorlando]

Candid is good - some of the best things the characters do with the kids is before the actual posed shot.... and I am sometimes so busy getting my camera ready for that picture that I miss the candids- Hugs & Kisses from Chip and Dale, dancing with Goofy, etc. The interaction during the signing of the book, etc. If there are two characters at one location, there is many times something going on between the child and the character without the book!!

My DD is nine, and she getst SOOO tired of me taking her picture.... she will never be able to say I didn't document her childhood - even before moving "to" WDW!!! She has days now that we will go to the parks that she won't be in any pics!

 

[jenr812]

Much good advice here already, but wanted to add - how about giving him a camera and letting him take pictures? Maybe as an incentive? Let him try it out for a few days at home before the trip, and then bring along an inexpensive camera for him to use on your trip.

 

[Tissa]

My ds does not like to have his picture taken either, I can't tell you how many pictures we have of his back or if he is facing the camera he's crying. It took a while but I finally figured out that it's the flash that upsets him.

 

[PrincessV]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, commiserations and words of encouragement!
My DS isn't afraid of anything - he's just plain stubborn (can't imagine where that came from )! I am the queen of candids these days.

Who knows, maybe he'll surprise me and actually look at the camera once this weekend!

 

[pixie dust 112]

My DD(12) has hidden her face from the camera for years! We have to sneak pictures of her. I'm doing a section of a scrapbook that I'm titling "camera shy" It will feature pictures of her with towels over her head, the back of her head, hands in front of her face.. I could go on and on! Funny thing is last year, "Trading Spaces" came to our block and she was more than happy to pose and get her picture with ball the "Trading Spaces" stars!