I’m almost never nervous to pull out my camera in just about any situation. At a park? Of course! In a donut shop? No problem! At a grocery store? Why not?! But when I pull out my camera around my husband, sometimes I have my guard up. I never know how he’ll react.

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Father’s Day is coming up, and you’d think this day, of all days is the one that my husband would be willing to smile for a photo. He LOVES pictures of himself with the kids when he sees them. But when he hears my shutter snapping he’s not always eager to be in front of the lens.

Thankfully, I’ve worked on him a bit. And I have some tips to share in case your husband is a camera-dodger like mine.

Be sneaky

Sometimes I’ve just gotta hide around a corner, or sneak up on them when they’re being cute, hoping he doesn’t see me with a camera in hand, or at least pretends he doesn’t. If you’re lucky, you’ll get some great candid moments to share with him later. It’s easier to be sneaky with a smaller camera or one of my DSLRs with a smaller lens on it. I like using my EF 40mm f/2.8 STM (aka pancake) lens because it’s not big and bulky. The smaller size makes it less intrusive.

Encourage him to do something he loves

My husband loves sports and working out. If I say I’d like to go in the garage and have the kids do a workout with him, he’s less likely to care if I take pictures because he’s in his element and they’re having fun. When your husband is having a good time, he might not mind you capturing it for memory’s sake. I like using a wider angle to take these lifestyle shots so I can can get more of the scene of what they’re doing. I shot this picture at 24mm length using my EF 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.

Tell the kids to go jump on his lap

Does he love to roughhouse? Capture those candid moments where they’re laughing and doing what daddy does best. Make sure you raise your shutter speed so you’re ready for the action. The higher your shutter speed the more you’re able to freeze the action (here’s a tutorial explaining shutter speed and more).

Go outside and play

Being outside with more space can make even the most camera-shy people feel more comfortable. While he plays with the kids snap a few pictures. If you’re far out in a field you can keep your distance and use a longer zoom lens to still capture them up close. Your camera’s kit lens could work if the focal length goes above 100mm even better. The EF 24-105 f/4 is a great upgrade option.You can also switch your camera to continuous shooting mode so it will take a burst of pictures as you hold down your shutter button. I like to do this then just save the good shots and delete the outtakes later.

Just don’t forget to put your camera down now and jump in to enjoy the fun too!

Ask nicely

When all else fails, say please. He may surprise you and say cheese! While I tend to appreciate the candid and lifestyle photos more, my husband doesn’t mind posing for photos every now and then. And these are the pictures he likes to print out and hang.

Good luck using these tips this Father’s Day to get the daddy in your life in the photos too! And if you’ve had better luck trying other methods please share your success in the comments. And for more tips on photographing your family and kids check out my photography course Child’s Play: Simple Tips for Photographing Children. It’s just $39.99 and a great gift!

Tags: Canon, partner, photo tips, photography tips