Hey Paul
Since i shoot for a contemporary portrait studio based in rural hampshire, i photograph kids pretty much every week, mostly at weekends.
Not sure how much experience you have with children so pls forgive me if i'm teaching you to suck eggs!!
I have found that with shy kids always try to be on their level, ie sit down, crouch down etc.
For younger kids, preschool ets intimate knowledge of ceebeebies, milkshake and other likeminded tv shows always go down well as you can ask them and get them to call out names, songs etc.
If you can, have a cd player handy to have music on but not always kids stuff, i have anything from madonna, green day, paul oakenfold to ceebeebies going in the studio.
funny sounds, funny faces, asking questions to obvious answers, basically anything they think you should know will always get them laughing. If you have lots of parents for a group shot beware that they all will "help" you in trying to get their attention. lose them if you can..
getting their names wrong is a good one..this may sound like i act like a clown but it works every time and parents are really receptive to me esp when i start chatting to the older ones and spend time finding out what they liek and do.
some kids are just very confidant and do pretty much whatever..the shy ones will take time..i have an hour in the studio with each client and sometimes cant pick the camera up for 15-20 mins while they stop crying or running off!
sorry to rattle on here..hope you find a little helpful info...
Good luck with everything inc paperwork!!
Andy
