A family photographer's viral trick for capturing genuine smiles from children during photo sessions has taken social media by storm, proving that sometimes the best photography technique comes straight from the freezer aisle. Professional photographer Allison Burriss discovered that offering ice cream to uncooperative kids transforms even the most challenging photo shoots into memorable family moments.
Burriss found herself in a difficult situation when preparing promotional photos for her photography business. Her three children - Makenzie, 7, Kaiden, 4, and Cambria, 1 - were exhausted and uninterested in participating in what would become a crucial marketing shoot for her company, Allie Bean Photography. "My kids were overtired, overdone. It was super late. It was about to be their bedtime," Burriss explained to TODAY.com.
Faced with the challenge of getting her children to cooperate, Burriss turned to a time-tested parenting strategy: strategic bribery. She asked her husband Zach to retrieve ice cream from upstairs, transforming what could have been a disaster into an unexpectedly delightful family session. "We fed them ice cream just to get them to cooperate, and then it just turned into so much fun!" she recalled.
The results were magical. Zach spoon-fed ice cream to all three children while Allison captured their genuine reactions. For 13-month-old Cambria, who had never tasted ice cream before, the experience was particularly special. "My youngest was 13 months at that time, and she just never had ice cream before, so it was like a novelty to her," Burriss noted. Meanwhile, her older children couldn't contain their excitement about the unexpected bedtime treat.
The sweet strategy proved so successful that Burriss decided to share her discovery with the world. She posted a video of the ice cream photo session on Instagram on October 21, which quickly gained traction with viewers. The post accumulated an impressive 700,000 views and generated numerous positive comments from parents and photographers alike. Comments ranged from "This is a strategy I can get behind" to "WORTH IT. Listen all rules go out the door for family photos" and "Diligently taking notes for our Christmas session."
The technique's effectiveness was further validated when client and friend Lauren Sewell decided to implement the ice cream strategy during her own family photo session with Burriss. Sewell had been struggling with her youngest son, who consistently refused to smile naturally for photos. "Her youngest son, he never smiles like the way she wants him to smile," Burriss explained. "He always like curls his lip under. You know how kids do that?"
The ice cream intervention worked perfectly for the Sewell family as well. The moment the reluctant young boy received his frozen treat, his characteristic lip curl transformed into a genuine, beaming smile. Burriss documented this session in another Instagram video posted on November 13, which exploded in popularity, garnering over 12 million views and cementing the ice cream technique as a legitimate photography hack.
The overwhelming response to both videos demonstrates the universal challenge parents face when trying to capture natural, happy expressions from their children during formal photo sessions. The ice cream method offers a practical solution that prioritizes authentic joy over traditional photography rules, suggesting that sometimes the best family photos come from embracing spontaneity rather than fighting against children's natural inclinations.
