Northy: how about pretending as though your kids are your clients and ask them for explicit instructions of what to shoot and how?
I asked Lev what he would like me to take a picture of? First thing he said: 'A picture with you and me and I give you a cuddle'. Where shall we take it? 'Upstairs'. He likes that, because we can sneak away without his brother and sister noticing. He wants the camera on the tripod. He sees some books on the cupboard and decides I need to read a book to him, 'Pretend read', he says. We do it. I think then we're done, but it has just started. No, one more with the... he looks around... a clock. Okay. And this is what I love about young children, they just naturally come up with tons of ideas. He wanted to count, count from one to ten. Then show some tricks. Mummy, I will sing a song now. Ah, I'm a pirate, this is my treasure box. Give me that hat, mummy please.
Okay, which picture do you like the best? He pointed out a lot of them. I turned some to black and white, but he didn't want that. No, I want colour. Okay. I tried a bit of tweaking. No, he wanted them, just as they were. Okay.