updated 9/7, 6pm: CONGRATULATIONS TO TARAH D. WHO WON THE PHOTO SESSION!
It’s done! We did it! And by “we,” I mostly mean my geniusly-intuitive-with-code-and-all-things-internety husband, Nate. MinneMama Adventures is insanely proud to announce its newly-designed, chock-full-of-stuff website.
So many new features and sections, including:
- easy-to-share social media buttons
- an up-to-date adventure map to help you find adventures in your neck of the woods
- a calendar listing of upcoming events
- a private forum to share, discuss, brag or complain about everything under the sun
- a “parent-to-parent” blog area, where I basically write about life and kids in general (let’s face it: it’s a glorified diary)
- opportunities to sponsor, partner, submit an adventure, offer a giveaway or just to say “Hey!”
To commemorate the completion of this ginormous undertaking, let’s celebrate, shall we? It’s GIVEAWAY TIME! So, listen up, because this is a good one.
Lemon Drop Photographers is going to give away a FULL PHOTO SESSION for you and your family (details below).
Now, a little about Lemon Drop Photographers:
Lemon Drop Photographers was established in 2012 by my beautiful friend Ashlie and her sister Brittany. They are mothers who are based out of Minneapolis, so they know how important (and difficult) it can be to capture raw emotion and special moments at family photo shoots. Ashlie says it best here: “As a mom of three, I thank my lucky stars for photographs and the still memories they hold. There is no better way to tell one’s own story than through photographs.” Lemon Drop specializes in family photography, and they do a brilliant job of capturing the innocence of newborns and children, the chemistry between couples, the unity of families, and, heck, they’ll even work with our four-legged furry friends! During their sessions, they believe that kids should be kids (and even encourage it). Ashlie says, “Let them run, be silly and play during the shoot. I encourage my parents and couples to relax and be themselves. Photo sessions should be fun and memorable. Not stressful!” See why I love her? Be sure to check out their website here or like them on Facebook.
Lemon Drop has offered to give away ONE FULL PHOTO SESSION. The session is one hour in length, either in the Lemon Drop Studio or outside, and comes with 25 edited images and your rights for printing.
To win the photo session, comment below telling us HOW YOU GET YOUR KIDS TO SMILE IN PHOTOS. Everyone has a different tip or trick, so spill it below and you will be entered to win.
This giveaway will end at 5pm on Sunday, September 7 when a winner will be selected at random.
Erin VonRuden
09/01/2014 at 10:12 pmLove the new site! Do I get to be the first to comment??? Unfortunately (or fortunately) all it take for Finn is to say “poop”. A for sure smile and/or laugh every time!
Jo
09/01/2014 at 11:10 pmYour site looks great! Wish my husband could help me with the internet coding stuff, but he’s great with other tech support like things so no complaints here. We get our daughter to smile by getting her make silly faces… or sometimes jumping works. Never tried saying ‘poop’, but sounds like we’ll have to try it sometime.
StepHanie
09/01/2014 at 11:35 pmFor my girls, sometimes the best photos are the ones they aren’t smiling in… But when I need a smile I usually tell them a joke, like what do you call a pig who knows karate? A pork chop! They are super cheesy, but the smiles they provoke are worth it!
Holly Grimm
09/02/2014 at 12:30 amAny joke that involves tooting is an automatic smile (my son is 4). Recently a photographer we were working with was looking for a genuine smile and our son was being a stinker so she burped and he loved it.
Amy w
09/02/2014 at 12:43 amThe ‘tickle monster’ makes an appearance– always gets her going!
Mika kieffer
09/02/2014 at 1:06 amTo get our kids to smile in pictures we let them be themselves and go to places that they love or places that they can simply be kids.
Kieren S
09/02/2014 at 1:07 amFor my little guy (and for the big one when he was little), I just have to pucker up and making a smooching sound! The 2 year old finally does well with the classic “cheese”! Great website and blog. I’m a new reader and am loving it!
Kaleena carlson
09/02/2014 at 1:12 amSnap my fingers and go over here Keilan, over here!!! I sound like I’m calling my dog. 🙂 He’s only 8 months so he doesn’t know better yet! Ha
Melissa H
09/02/2014 at 1:12 amWe jump up and down and make silly faces. 🙂
Wendy hemme
09/02/2014 at 1:19 amLove Lemondrop and happy to find this blog! We shake something from behind the camera- keys, ect… but a mini maraca rattle is my little one’s favorite. And of course, smile back!
alyssa
09/02/2014 at 1:21 amA quick tickle or bribes work best for me!
Cristy Mullin
09/02/2014 at 1:27 amAwesome job guys!! We use the “do not smile! Do not do it….no, stoooop!” trick. works every time
meghan
09/02/2014 at 1:27 amWe say show me your cheese face and that usually does the trick!
tarah davis
09/02/2014 at 1:27 amBest trick for my little girl is just pulling out the camera if that doesn’t work daddy makes silly faces for her.
Nicki Brunner
09/07/2014 at 7:23 pmCongratulations, Tarah! Lucky commenter #14 is the BIG WINNER! I have emailed you information on receiving your giveaway session, but feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for reading!
Lindy Neubauer
09/02/2014 at 1:30 amThe new site looks awesome Nicki (& Nate)!
I also have a 4 year old so I’ll echo the previous comments about passing gas/underpants jokes and/or the tickle monster. 🙂
Sarah
09/02/2014 at 1:34 amI tell her it’s a “no smiling contest” which seems to work all the time.
Sara goese
09/02/2014 at 1:36 amLove Lemon Drop too and this blog looks awesome! Daddy is usually the best at getting smiles. He hops around and acts silly. Peek-a-boo also gets big laughs and smiles…and if all else fails mommy sings opera! 🙂
Victoriya
09/02/2014 at 1:37 amWe tell our toddler to say CHEEEEESEBURGER and make silly faces for our 6 month old
Galit Breen
09/02/2014 at 1:50 amCongrats, you two! Your site looks absolutely amazing! I’m excited to follow your next great steps!
(Our photo trick is Jason always has everyone say, “yay” before a shot – they’re fab everytime!)
Andrea Johnson
09/02/2014 at 2:16 amSo excited for you guys. Great job. I have pretty little ones. So to get them to smile I do the fish face or some other similar silly face.
Julie
09/02/2014 at 2:36 amI shake their favorite toy for them or make funny faces… That usually works. 🙂
Jana
09/02/2014 at 2:41 amMommy jumping around saying cheeseburger and fries!!
Katie Domarus
09/02/2014 at 3:46 amWe always take about our silly puppies and bring there favorite candy! Pretty easy to please!
Julie noRdin
09/02/2014 at 4:26 amLove the new website and with or without this giveaway, I need to have lemon drop take our pictures some day!!! What I do to make my 22-month-old smile is tell her, “let me see your pretty teeth!” Or “look! Mommy has a spider on her head!!” She is sure to laugh then. 🙂
Jaymi
09/02/2014 at 5:34 amLet’s be honest here. At the end of the day, all of the bribes, funny faces and crazy hand motions only leave me looking silly and my kids thinking I’m a loon. So I do what any self respecting mom does, I make the most impressive farting noises and we all get a laugh out of it.
Tracy Madden
09/02/2014 at 3:35 amI just blurt out some nonsense words. If I ask my son to smile, I get the “cheese” face.
ANNA ROEN
09/02/2014 at 5:59 amThis site looks awesome!!! My lil man is the classic, simple “say cheese” kind of kiddo. But he will give you the biggest, cutest,cheesiest smile every time! He’s a camera ham.
Tara
09/02/2014 at 6:18 amFor the little kids I roll my tounge (like an hour exaggerated rolling R in Spanish!) For the big kids I usually have to threaten ‘we will try all day until we get this’… Lol. Hey, it usually works!
Sarah l
09/02/2014 at 7:15 amMake funny faces and have them say something silly like “say cheeseburgers!”
Kelly
09/02/2014 at 7:25 amIf I start laughing, that usually gets the boys to smile or start laughing themselves.
Kara frank
09/02/2014 at 9:34 amWe do the traditional “Say Cheese”! (It helps that she loves cheese!)
Belen
09/02/2014 at 9:49 amLove the new site! Congrats!
I get my almost 2 year old son to smile on camera by letting out a cross-eyed, tongue flailing monster wail that usually ends in “booga booga who hahaha.” Insanely embarrassing in public, but he thinks it’s a hoot and cracks a smile every time. I also play a game called “Where’s your sunshine?” where he raises his hands above his head and makes a sunshine (like fifth position in ballet) when I ask that question. I then tickle his belly and it starts a game of toddler-solicited tickles that brings out lots of laughter in us both.
Cindy
09/02/2014 at 10:06 amWe actually have very good luck getting our kids (girls, 3&5) to smile for photos by telling them NOT to smile. I don’t what that says about our parenting style, but it works!
Michelle
09/02/2014 at 10:36 amFor our two-year old to smile in photos, we usually have to act goofy. Make an odd sound or face, that usually does it. Downside to that is the potential to look funny in your photos, lol!
Allison S.
09/02/2014 at 12:04 pmSmarties!!!
Donna Hup
09/02/2014 at 4:19 pmI do the silly dance and they crack up!
Marybeth Hamilton
09/02/2014 at 4:19 pmI have a hard time getting my kids to smile naturally in photos. I generally have to get pictures of them laughing over something silly I’m saying or doing behind the camera.
Jamie H
09/02/2014 at 4:25 pmI actually prefer candid photos over ones with forced smiles. My girls, are pretty good at smiling on demand though. If they aren’t quite cooperative, we tell a joke about daddy!
Love the look of your site!
Kelly
09/02/2014 at 4:26 pmI hold a bag of M&Ms behind the camera! Works almost every time. I love the baby toe photo, so cute!
Jessica
09/02/2014 at 4:28 pmI pretty much have to act insane to get them to smile if they won’t do it on their own.
steph kwong
09/02/2014 at 4:37 pmHonestly… I honk like a goose. She finds it hilarious.
Kelsi s
09/02/2014 at 4:51 pmHolding her own tube of Chapstick was all that my 16 month old needed… She’s getting busier and busier though, heaven help me!
Jane
09/02/2014 at 5:55 pmTo get my daughter to smile we tell her to say “stinky cheese” or “chicken buck” (it’s butt but she can’t say that). If that doesn’t work it’s acting silly or tickling that works. Mostly we like the pics that are caught spontaneously, smiles or not.
Laura
09/02/2014 at 6:54 pmDoing something silly to make my boys laugh is the best way to get good smiles in photos. Sometimes silly phrases work well too.
Kristin
09/02/2014 at 7:30 pmWe have a few funny family stories that I pull out for times when I need smiles. They always end wth everybody laughing!
Debbie Mc Loughlin
09/02/2014 at 7:53 pmI generally make the most obnoxious noises I can 🙂 and/or put ridiculous things on my head or near the camera. Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Jeanna
09/02/2014 at 7:57 pmBaby is still very young…could be a simple peek a boo to tickles of the feet. All depends on the mood of the day 😉
danielle pelton
09/02/2014 at 8:18 pmI either bribe her with a sucker or I say something like “poop” or “boogers”! Love your work!
Laura Brady
09/02/2014 at 8:20 pmWe can usually get our 7-month-old to smile with a good tickle, but our 3-year-old has become more of a challenge lately! We will have to try some of the tips and tricks posted here…
Bre
09/02/2014 at 8:30 pmI do the fake sneeze — it always works, even if I have to do a full-on sneezing fit.
Anna
09/02/2014 at 8:59 pmI have to crack jokes, do funny dances, give myself bunny ears or ask them to repeat something silly that makes my kids laugh. It’s usually harder to get them to sit still than it is to make them smile! I love the new site, Nicki!
Kristin
09/02/2014 at 9:35 pmPlaying peekaboo behind the camera works for my 1 and 3 year old or like someone else said M and M’s are the foolproof trick for my older one. 🙂
katie
09/02/2014 at 10:08 pmTrevor and I dance and sing silly songs in high pitched voices- then we laugh at each other which in turn makes our kids laugh at us. 🙂
(Love the new site!)
Lindsey PS
09/03/2014 at 10:53 amI used to work at Sears portrait Studio, and the best way to get a kid to smile is to make a goof of yourself. I used to have kids reach out and touch a piece of cardboard, and then quickly bop myself in the head with it and make a surprised noise… it works on SO many ages.
Laura Hanneman
09/03/2014 at 2:08 pmThere is a brief second when that camera first makes an appearance that Carson will lovingly smile on his own. Then it’s a lot of funny noises, faces and objects on top of our heads that tends to do the trick!
Kelly
09/03/2014 at 8:27 pmWe have our 2 year old shout hooray and that typically ends in a giggle!
michelle Bruhn
09/03/2014 at 8:44 pmWoot Woot on the new web digs! My almost 5 year old is a tough one for smiles, but if we focus on getting little brother to smile they usually both end up happy (Ain’t that just life for you). My hubby can sometimes get a grin with “DON”T YOU SMILE!!” lucky guy.
Jenny S
09/03/2014 at 8:53 pmI have 4 kids and to get them to smile, I bribe them with a couple M&Ms….
Marissa
09/03/2014 at 10:07 pmWe have found success in putting a toy or silly ht, etc. on our heads to make them look up at us and laugh. The kids are only 10 months and two, though – I’m sure we will need to come up with some new tactics soon!
Hillarie
09/04/2014 at 12:08 pmMy four year old daughter is a tough nut to crack. Getting her to smile usually takes a bribe or reminding her that not smiling will make grandma sad. 🙂
Mandy
09/05/2014 at 2:47 pmI find that making absurd noises and faces works, just being silly. However some of the most genuine smiles come from those moments where you don’t put pressure on them and you just let them be them, You see the joy and true smiles in those moments where they are doing something they love, could be riding your leg like a horse or picking up and throwing dirt and sticks, which was the case for my child where we got the best smile,
Sarah
09/05/2014 at 2:53 pmIt’s unoriginal but I find the goofier and sillier I am then I can get my kids to smile/laugh. And my super sweet dance moves!
Julie
09/05/2014 at 3:35 pmI cross my eyes and stick out my tongue – gets them every time.
Katie
09/05/2014 at 3:49 pmI just tell her the sooner she smiles the sooner we will be done. Works every time
Nancy
09/05/2014 at 4:07 pmWe have tried many things but right now we say, “Don’t smile!!” And it works like a charm! Even works for grownups
Nina Retzer
09/05/2014 at 4:10 pmTell them, “I don’t think you know how to smile.” They love proving me wrong!
Molly Pittman
09/05/2014 at 4:20 pmWe make big eyes at our son and say bop bop bop, squeeze his checks, say boog-a-de boo, say lots of silly things and makes lots of faces at him. And lots of big smiles. It has worked since he was 3 months old. Have lots of great pictures of him and his big smile.
Rachel
09/05/2014 at 4:24 pmBribery with jelly belly’s usually works well when they aren’t in the mood to smile, but they usually do well without it. Great new site! Congrats!! 😉
Becky
09/05/2014 at 4:26 pmI jump around like a fool behind the photographer. Usually works. If nothing else, good for a work out. 🙂
Stephanie
09/05/2014 at 4:42 pmI promise a delicious meal afterwards!
julie
09/05/2014 at 5:01 pmIt’s pretty tricky to try to get our little one to smile. She likes when we chase her around, but those sure make for hard shots for the photog to get! 🙂
Emily
09/05/2014 at 5:07 pmAll it takes to get my daughter to smile is to say “shark bait oo ha ha!” She thinks it’s hilarious!
Nicki Brunner
09/08/2014 at 11:25 pmCongratulations Emily! You are our Bloggers Choice Comment Winner! We laughed so hard at your comment that we think YOU also deserve a free photo session. I have emailed you and Ashlie will be in contact with you regarding your giveaway prize! Thanks for the laugh 🙂
Jessie
09/05/2014 at 5:27 pmSimply telling them that they can’t smile usually gets a great big one every time
Danielle
09/05/2014 at 5:49 pmKaylee tends to always be smiling so for me to take a picture its not too hard. Haven’t done professional in 10 months so I dont know what she would do.
MEGAN f
09/05/2014 at 6:00 pmOur little man loves it when we ask him what noise a puppy says, and then make a barking noise!
Jane
09/05/2014 at 6:26 pmI tell my kids not to smile and they usually try so hard not to that it turns into a true smile.
Nicole Marohn
09/05/2014 at 6:54 pmPEZ dispenser on top of my camera 🙂 The kids know if they are good and smile they get candy!
Cassie stRese
09/05/2014 at 7:20 pmI let the talented Lemmon drop photographer make him smile!!
Hillary
09/05/2014 at 8:15 pmThe youngest has had a smile on his face since birth, but his older sister is usually bribed with candy to smile for the camera =)
Chelsea
09/05/2014 at 8:19 pmMy daughter is 2 months old and just started smiling! I noticed that if you rub her chin she will usually give a little smirk!
Molly leonard
09/05/2014 at 8:26 pmI just found your site! I will be following… to get my 2 year old to smile big for pictures we tickle his cheeks…works every time
Amy reiChel
09/05/2014 at 8:39 pmOh man this is getting harder as my son is older. He’s 5 and has the biggest fake smile it looks like he’s pooping lol. Usually I say daddy is going to tickle you or I pretend to trip or fall over!!
dan s
09/05/2014 at 8:50 pmHave someone act silly!
RaChel B.
09/05/2014 at 8:56 pmWe pretend to sneeze really loud and dramatic. Ah ah ah chooooo! Gets their attention and they think it’s funny. 🙂
Hailie ekhoff
09/05/2014 at 8:57 pmGenerally just acting like a complete nut and making funny sounds will get a smile…unless she’s in a serious mood in which case you just get the raised eyebrows look..which makes for cute picture too.
Carrie g
09/05/2014 at 8:58 pmFor my stubborn one I just have to make funny noises …Click of tongue, zerbert or hate to say it but far noises work everytime!!
Danielle Eickholt
09/05/2014 at 9:01 pmTo get my baby girl to smile I do the follow: say her name really loud, take deep breaths and blow (even across the room is works), show her her own reflection or simply just show her a camera. She loves pictures!!!
Jill
09/05/2014 at 9:04 pmI sing, tell jokes, do whatever I can.
The big kids laugh every time I say Dad eats his own boogers
Jenna gorman
09/05/2014 at 9:19 pmI wave my hands and make silly faces to try to get Jack to smile!
Leslie
09/05/2014 at 9:28 pmAnything that falls into the realm of potty talk 🙂
Jessica
09/05/2014 at 9:41 pmWe do crazy dances and make silly faces to get our little one to smile. I’m sure we look pretty crazy as adults just trying to capture that smile we love so much!
Janine kohlbeck
09/05/2014 at 9:54 pmI have twin girls and we usually sing songs to get them to smile. We even get them to smile at the same time! 🙂 The new site looks great!
jenna herrmann
09/05/2014 at 10:24 pmBy saying that the picture is for the Christmas card and everyone will be seeing it…better look and smile your best!
Michelle
09/06/2014 at 2:42 amPretend to be surprised/scared by something.
GreTchen Barrett
09/06/2014 at 2:47 amKids are tough to get then to do what you want so we try to make funny jokes and faces, that always gets them!
Katie gergen
09/06/2014 at 8:16 amHaving two girls they think it’s hilarious when their dad gets hurt and says “ouch!” I’ve never had professional pictures done so I guess I would have all sorts of bribes…. Candy, money, and that’s just for me!
Joel Sackett
09/06/2014 at 12:51 pmBelly Busters!
Kory
09/06/2014 at 2:30 pmLove ur site. I play peekaboo to get my son to smile.
Nicole McQuiston
09/06/2014 at 11:24 pmToo be honest, I really love all the “in the moment” pictures the best. I love seeing photos of my girls completely in their element and just being themselves.
Of course you have to have the usual smiling pictures too…but smiles sure are trickier when you actually want them to smile! It requires many silly faces, goofy words and tickles to get those smiles!
Lindsay haley
09/07/2014 at 6:59 amI make animal noises and funny faces to get my son to smile!
Katie Thomas
09/07/2014 at 8:18 amMy little one is still mimicking our faces…but if that seems to not work, Sophie the Giraffe, and maybe a little tickle “I’m going to get you…”. I agree with Ashlie, you have to be relaxed.
Yay! Enjoy Fall photos with your loved ones, Lemon Drop is fantastic! Can’t wait to start following your blog!
Cheers!
Jen robak
09/07/2014 at 11:30 amI usually sing, make funny faces and dance around! My one year old loves it!!!
Jennifer
09/07/2014 at 11:35 amFor the older two it seems that if we tell them not to smile then they smile!! Just working on not having those silly “fake” smiles! The baby smiles if we smile at him and talk to him so that’s pretty easy!!
Sarah
03/23/2016 at 12:44 pmI tell my kids to make faces silly, sad, and end with happy.