I’m so excited you’re here! Of all people, YOU, the parent, have the biggest advantages when it comes to getting the best photographs of your children. You’re there for all those precious moments, you know the best ways to make them laugh and smile, and most of all, your child adores you and is the most comfortable in your presence. So with all those advantages on your side, why does it seem so darn hard to translate those precious moments on camera?! I’m here to help! Whether you own the latest and greatest SLR or a little point-and-shoot, the following tips can be applied to anyone with a camera and a passion to shoot!
1. Getting perspective!
Take a peak into the world from your little one’s perspective – getting down to eye level with your child will allow your camera to capture this. Get as close as possible to your child when shooting, because this avoids distracting backgrounds and allows your camera lens to “frame” your little one closely. A common mistake is thinking you always have to make sure your child’s entire body fits in the picture. Not true! Sometimes cropping in to only their hands, feet, portions of their face, or a close-up of their eyes can produce the most compelling images.
2. Light!
One of the biggest mistakes people make is using the on-camera flash. Not only does this create harsh shadows and highlights, it usually makes the skin of your child appear waxy and discolored instead of soft and natural. Good ol’ natural lighting is the best light source available to you – turn off that flash!
The best times to shoot outdoors are within 1 hour after sunrise, and 1 hour before sunset. The afternoon hours are when the sun is the strongest, leaving you with pictures of squinty-eyed kids and harsh shadows on their faces. Shooting on cloudy days are an exception and actually provide soft, beautiful light to work with. My favorite times to shoot are on overcast days!
3. Eye candy!
When it comes to photographing children, focusing on the eyes is one of the most important rules of portrait photography. Personality and expression comes from the eyes alone, and if you can keep this one golden rule in mind, you will have more success when trying to captivate the true personality of your child on camera.
4. Simplicity is best!
When choosing the location to shoot your picture, study the surroundings, and remove objects that might be a distraction in your picture. Remember, simplicity is best! The more simple you keep the photograph, the more your child will be the focus. Solid colored walls, sofas, chairs, and bedding are awesome backdrops to work with. Outfits with big logos or goofy cartoons can be distracting, so try to keep your child in solid colored or lightly patterned clothing (although certain accessories – hats, special toys, etc. can be adorable!).
5. Adding accents!
There are endless amounts of props around – use them! Think dresser drawers, baskets, old-fashioned suitcases, and buckets; get creative! These make for some adorable accents and add life to your photo.
Photographing children is no easy task, but keep practicing, and take LOTS of pictures! You will treasure these images of your kiddos for years to come, and as the saying goes “practice makes perfect….” Happy shooting!
no comments