If you’ve ever tried to attract and hold a child’s attention for any period of time while shooting photos, then you know just how difficult it can be! That’s when a little trickery comes into play… when Michelle and I are faced with this situation, we often use the child’s favorite stuffed animal as a prop. Not a prop for the photos themselves, but for capturing genuine smiles like the sweet little dimpled grin you see in the photo below!

This technique often requires the two of us… one to shoot the photo, and the other to play peek-a-boo with the prized stuffed animal. It works like a charm!

…that is, when there are two of us. So what are you supposed to do when you only have two hands and can’t possibly play peek-a-boo and shoot the photo at the same time? Enter, Shutter Huggers!

This little tool will prove to be one of the most valuable pieces of equipment in your camera bag. It slides snugly over the lens of your camera, so there’s nothing to hold. You’re free to adjust settings as needed and with a little prompting like, “What does the monkey say?” you’re well on your way to capturing those sweet little smiles and grins from the children you find in front of your camera!

There are even Shutter Huggers for mobile phones, too!

So next time you find yourself in a bit of a pickle trying to coax those all too often elusive smiles from the kids in front of your camera, reach for one of these little furry friends!

Find Shutter Huggers on Amazon!