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How to take great photos of your kids
by professional portrait photographer, Phillipa C.
Firstly, the biggest advantage you have as a parent with a camera is that your children are comfortable around YOU. They will be their natural selves, so try and capture that when taking photos. Be subtle with the camera. Be patient. Great stuff will happen when your children are relaxed and having fun. When kids are thinking about having to 'smile for the camera', it can disturb their natural personalities.
It doesn't matter if you are photographing with a film or a digital camera. Film pictures have a certain quality that digital hasn't quite replicated yet. However, some of the new digital cameras can be sophisticated and easy to use. Digital will also allow you to shoot more and show you instantly what you're getting. This is a magnificent way to learn to take pictures.
Ok folks, let's get those cameras and kids together and make some magic!
LOCATION
- When indoors, try finding a room (with big windows) that fills with gorgeous daylight. Maybe
you have noticed a particular time of day when light will enter a room and
be nice and bright and full of light. Try taking
some pictures in this room. Shoot with your back against the light source
(your back is against the window/your kids are facing the window). You
should see great results with this and it should be nice and relaxing for
the kids to play inside.
- When outdoors, utilise a beautiful landscape. If your backyard is a wild
mess then head to the nearest park or playground. Children love the outdoors and here's what I think are a few simple rules to get absolutely fantastic
shots of them outside having fun...
- Light is best in the morning or later in the afternoon. If you are out at
sunset...look for that gorgeous soft sun on their faces and shoot shoot
shoot! (everyone knows...having your back to the sun is the safest.)
- Be ready to be on the move. Kids will run and play. Move a little with
them. There is no excuses if you have a digital camera that is small. Snap
away and move around with them. You might get something interesting.
- Let them act naturally. Don't bother calling their names a dozen times to
look at you for the picture. Chances are they will occasionally look up and
around for you. Be ready to snap when they do. Keep in mind that great
pictures also happen when children aren't looking at the camera.
COMPOSITION
-
The main thing to consider when composing your photos is the background and surrounding area of your
'photo space'. Have a quick look around. If there may be something in the background that
you will regret looking at after you made that winning shot (dirty laundry,
open messy cupboards, garbage bins etc)... remove it!
- Indoors... simple is best. Plain rooms allow focus on the kids. If you
have wooden floorboards, it just looks fantastic and once again, go for any
rooms illuminated by big windows.
- Outdoors... look for green grassy parks, trees, bright
playgrounds. again...be careful of background 'messiness' (rubbish bins,
traffic & roads). I'm a big fan of composing an image with simple green
grass and a beautiful smiling child's face.
- Try to use as little flash as possible. If it's needed, so be it. It's not
a big deal. I just prefer the gentleness of non-flash pictures and it's less
disturbing to your children.
I find that film rated at 400ASA works perfectly for both indoor and outdoor
picture taking. Because it is a little faster, you have more opportunity to
work in available light.
If using digital, you should be able to manually control the ASA setting.
Use 400 for indoor and try 200 when outdoors.
COLOUR & CLOTHING
- I love two things on kids. White and/or bright plain colours. The golden
rule....'no logo'.
Let them wear what suits them best and is comfortable. The idea is not to
notice the clothes too much. Simple is best.
I love colours because they can really make pictures 'pop!' If you aren't
sure with colour, stick to plain and light. You can't go wrong until that
ice-cream drips!
HAVING FUN
- So, last but not least....have a blast! Enjoy it. Chances are, the more
fun you have with the camera and your kids, the more exciting the pictures
will be and before you know it, you will have a zillion moments captured
that will make you smile (or cry...with joy!)
All the best,
Phillipa C.
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