Boost Children’s Confidence with the Magic of Photography

Filling the self confidence cup.

Photography isn’t magic, so what am I talking about? Although it’s not technically magic, it can be magical. Portraits of our little ones are full of beauty; they can build confidence in our children’s lives while creating lasting memories.

Stock image of an imaginary networking meeting. ;)

I was recently at a networking meeting, and a conversation started that I wasn’t expecting. At most networking events, you go around the circle, introduce yourself, and tell a little bit about what you do. Then, one pre-selected person does a presentation. I had word vomit when it came to my turn and went a little deeper about what I do with photography. A new (to me) gal was there, and she brought up what I said during her presentation. I didn’t think anything of it at the time; I used my usual words when talking with potential clients.

She said what stood out about my business to her was when I said photos in the home help children’s self-esteem. This woman, whom I had never met before, went deep. She opened my eyes to the subject and told me I needed to share it more. Write it on my cards, brochures, website, etc. So, here I am.

I said, “When you have photos of your children in your home, it helps their self-esteem,” and moved on with the rest of my introductory ramble. Who knew that little sentence would have changed my entire day and method of thinking?

Kids love seeing themselves. Babies and toddlers love looking at themselves in mirrors. When a child walks past a large photo of themselves hanging up on the wall, something sparkles inside of them. Even if it’s hanging in the hallway and they’re being sent to bed, they can’t help but look up at their image. They see themselves. They belong.

I’m not a Doctor, so this is a disclaimer that I don’t have accreditation as to what I’m talking about. But I came across this article recently to help you understand the psychology behind this topic. Use the Google machine, and you can find lots of information by doing your own research.

During a two-month-long photography business course, my instructor said over and over how important photos are for children. I absorbed what she said and moved on. However, the message was ingrained in me to share that information with my clients. But I don’t use it in my “elevator pitch.”

Until now!

I have four kids; two are adults, two are teenagers, and I would consider all of them to be very confident. I’m wondering if it’s because we have photos of them all over our home. Now, if I were being honest, we don’t have 30”x 40” large canvases all over the walls (our home lacks wall space). However, we do have multiple photo books and framed prints on almost every shelf. They see their faces in every room of the house, including their bedrooms.

This brings up my next topic. Would you rather have your home filled with stuff to cover your walls from a local craft store that Sandra down the street also has? Or would you rather invest in gorgeous wall art with images of yourself/ kids for your home and children’s rooms instead?

College graduate portrait

Here’s a little backstory of my childhood.

I grew up with a 3x5 snapshot of me crying on display in my home. This snapshot has been spoken about before in a previous post, so I apologize if you know the story.

It was early spring, and we were hiking along a river in Yosemite, California. I slipped and fell into the water, of course. My dad, a photographer, took a photo of me crying. No, I was absolutely bawling my eyes out. My pink puffy jacket and grey snow pants with lots of tears. That photo haunts me to this day. He has a great sense of humor, as do I. But there was always something about that photo that made me feel less than. I can laugh about it now, but as a child, I hated that photo.

As parents, we often try to find humor in things to keep ourselves sane, right? Take a second to think back about a silly or embarrassing photo of you. Do you wish you could erase it from your memory? Or, perhaps replace it with something happier? I know I would.

I’m not here to tell you to book me as your photographer but, book me as your photographer. I just want you to display photos of your kids on the walls. Display something large enough to help make an impact on those young minds and lives. Your smartphone can take great photos, yes. But, when you go and print them, they will not look very good. Professional photographers spend countless hours learning and practicing their skills. Not to mention the gear. Again, you don’t have to book me, but please book a photographer in your area and get portraits of those kiddos.

Easily spiff the little ones up by combing their hair and putting them in a nice outfit. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Your little girl can wear her dress-up costume and fairy wings. The twins can wear matching PJs. Your son can wear his silly hat and go barefoot. Just get their portraits taken and hung up on your walls. A good professional photographer will offer print art. We’re out here; you just have to find us.

Little giggles are the best!

Now, if you have a home like mine that lacks wall space, a nice photo book is a great option. It will have more images, too. Leave it out on the coffee table for them to look through with you. When Grandma comes to visit, they can both look through it together. It can create a special bonding time when they are small, just like reading a book.

So, no, photography isn’t exactly magic. But it can create magic in a child’s heart. Seeing their image will give them a sense of belonging. It’ll make them smile more. It really helps boost their self-confidence. Portraits help with self-esteem with kids, teenagers (this delicate age needs all the boosters), and adults, too. As adults, we can use a little confidence boost, too.

Alright, I’m hopping off my soapbox now. I do hope this gave you some important insight and something new to think about.

Go book your own portrait session!

Cheers!

Annette