Child Photography
This guide will give you a few quick hints and tips to help you improve your child photography. Photographing children can be one of the most rewarding, as well as the most stressful, shoots a photographer can attempt, but hopefully after a little preparation and with the aid of these suggestions you can get photos you will treasure forever.
Image by Vanessa Pike-Russell
The hardest thing about photographing children is keeping their attention on the task in hand. The easiest way to achieve this is either to keep them focused upon something else (like a favorite toy) or try and turn the photoshoot into a game. Playing ‘Simon Says” is an easy way to get the child to listen to your instructions, and a funny face both breaks the ice and can mean you end up with some ‘interesting’ shots!
Children photograph best when they are happy and laughing, so try and make the session a bit of fun. They to have something fun behind the camera, not only will it get the reaction you need, but also get them to look towards the lens. In this case, the more ridiculous you look, the better. Digital photography lets you show the child what they look like on camera, and can help them get more involved.
You may have noticed that the attention span of your average child is small. Very small. Forcing them to wait while you set up your equipment will only put them in a mood, and will mean you’re less likely to get the shot you want. When photographing kids, make sure that everything is set up in advance if you intend to do a proper shoot, and make sure that cables and the bases for tripods or lights are well out of reach. In terms of lighting, you will, as for any form of portrait photography, need to set up soft lighting using reflectors rather than having shadows cast across the child by harsh direct lighting. Bear in mind that children have a tendency to move fast and are less likely to hold a pose than any other models, so make sure you have enough light to allow you to work at faster shutter speeds.
Remember to get down to their level. Try not to see them, as you usually would, from above, but adopt their perspective. And while talking about seeing, remember that the primary point of focus should be on the eyes, specifically the one closest to the lens.
These child photography tips should ensure that you get the shots you’re looking for. Good luck!
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