25 Classic Kids Photos to Inspire You
Last year at dPS we launched a resource for people wanting to improve their photography of kids – something I know a lot of dPS readers have been asking for.
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Today I was surfing on Flickr’s Commons section and my attention was caught by the many many shots of children in the section and particularly found myself marvelling at how things have changed in how we photograph kids.
I thought I’d showcase some classic kids portraiture – both for a little fun but also because I’m actually feeling a little inspired by a few of them and thought they might similarly give some fresh inspiration to others as they go about photographing their kids. Some of the shots are formal portraits, others commercial work, others what we might classify as ‘candid’ portraits.
I hope you enjoy them.
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Image Source: Power House Museum Collection
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Image Source: George Eastman House
Image Source: Nationaal Archief
Image Source: George Eastman House
Image Source: State Library of NSW Collection
Image Source: George Eastman House
Image Source: Powerhouse Museum Collection
Image Source: Nationaal Archief
Image Source: State Library of NSW Collection
Image Source: Powerhouse Museum Collection
Image Collection: National Media Museum
Image Source: Musée McCord Museum
Image Source: State Library of NSW Collection
Image Source: Library of Congress
Image Source: George Eastman House
Image Source: Oregan State University Archives
Image Source: Nationaal Archief
Image Source: Powerhouse Museum Collection
Image Source: National Library of Wales
Image Source: State Library and Archives of Florida
Image Source: The National Library of Wales
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Check out our kids photography eBook – CLICK! How to Take Beautiful Photos of Your Kids
48 Responses to “25 Classic Kids Photos to Inspire You” - Add Yours
August 26th, 2011 at 12:26 am
Beautiful set of photos. Truly inspiring.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Such depth and what lovely tones…I feel ashamed that I cannot get such good images with a modern dslr :-/
August 26th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Lovely set of timeless images. Very inspiring!
August 26th, 2011 at 12:45 am
Not really classics but the occasion is classic, kids at the anti-corruption protest currently going on in India.
http://blogs.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/2011/08/protesting-with-young-children-ramlila-maidan.html
August 26th, 2011 at 12:51 am
There is nothing as beautiful, or as classic, as these old black and white photographs! Great collection and very inspiring…thanks for posting.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:00 am
These are breathtaking, thank you so much for this post.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:36 am
Brillant selection and, as you said, inspirational. Nowadays you haven’t got a hope to make them sit still that long for a formal portrait.
August 26th, 2011 at 2:41 am
These are awesome – I especially love the shot of the boy in the bowler hat.
I’ve been working and playing with and shooting kids for many many years, they’re my favorite. Not classics necessarily, but here are mine:
http://sweetronit.com/blog/category/kids/
I wonder if the shifts are not just in how we shoot kids, but how much kids these days are used to being in front of the camera?
August 26th, 2011 at 2:48 am
Loved them all…thanks for sharing.
August 26th, 2011 at 3:54 am
Hi
We were going for the Classic Baby shot here with the bleached treatment – this was specifically requested by our Client…different for sure!
http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/the-new-gerber-baby/
August 26th, 2011 at 5:21 am
Wow! I am in love with these shots – you are right, they are definitely inspiring. This may be my favorite post yet here on DPS.
August 26th, 2011 at 5:50 am
Timeless collection. Love it!
August 26th, 2011 at 7:39 am
poor #3 looks like Benjamin Button
August 26th, 2011 at 7:57 am
The great shame of today is that if , as a photographer, male, you try to capture candid shots of kids in public places you are immediately accused by some irate adult of ulterior motives. The child is re-inforced in the suspicion that all strangers are out to molest, and every shot of a youngster has to be removed from the candid unposed category to the carefully arranged with parental permission. Usually makes a hopeless shot.
August 26th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Not quite so timeless, it’s in color, but a great “kid” photo nonetheless.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/4720205893/
August 26th, 2011 at 9:59 am
What a great series of shots. I am not much of a portrait taker, but I may have to start.
August 26th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Love this post! So inspiring!
August 26th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Makes me want to time travel….
August 26th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Thinking that the photographers could not know what the photo would be like, yet they made such wonderful shots. It took a lot of knowledge and skills. I am in awe with these photos.
August 26th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
hope u like it…
https://picasaweb.google.com/109068508691708943588/24August2011#5644805030023553666
August 26th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
wow, very nice set…
August 26th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Beautiful and very authentic..children always capture the moment as it is and as it were. lovely posts
August 26th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Thanks Darren! Those are really beautiful, inspiring, and sometimes surprising. Check out this link for a really powerful photo essay with children. http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/where-children-sleep/
Have a great day.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Thank you so much for compiling such a beautiful collection of photographs. I love them all but especially the one little one looking in the cup (holding onto an adult’s hand), the child with the pack on his back (the eyes!), and the munchkin on the ladder! My true love is black and white children’s portraiture (with film) so these were definitely inspiring for me!
August 26th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Love these. Truly inspiring to the photographer in me.
August 26th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I especially love the B&W sandwich picture and the stepladder.
The adult hand in #3 is a bit scary though.
August 26th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
@colininoz – As a male photographer, I totally agree. I was flag marshalling and taking photos at a local MotoX event and a mother complained to one of officials about taking photos of children. I had already spoken to the club president that it was a public event and that the kids were in MotoX gear riding motorbikes. How could their be anything wrong with that? Other people were quite happy and wanting to buy photos, especially of the kids. How warped are people that they think everyone taking photos is a threat to children?
August 27th, 2011 at 12:06 am
Wow. I feel humbled … really! I have never had a lot of luck shooting kids other than my own. My own, now they were and are pretty well trained. When Mom/Granny says “Freeze!” they freeze. Smile and all. But that doesn’t work with other people’s kids who aren’t used to having a primary parent figure constantly taking their picture. Those are truly wonderful images, every last one of them. Also reminds me how strong a tool black and white could be. If only the DOGS would cooperate!
August 27th, 2011 at 1:40 am
Do you have any background information on these beautiful images (dates, locations, and that sort of thing)? Thanks for sharing them – they’re lovely!
August 27th, 2011 at 2:52 am
I’m blown away with how good photography was during this era. I’ve seen so many standard pics of the kids setting on stools but some of these really capture the children’s personalities as well as things they did in the daily lives. Love that! Nice to reflect on those today.
August 27th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Those are so cool! Thank you so much for sharing them here.
August 28th, 2011 at 2:55 am
These are amazing. I have photos of my great grandfathers/g grandmothers, uncles, etc., from the 1800s. I even have one of my PaPa in 1889. Many of them resemble these treasures. Thank you so much for sharing.
Samantha
August 28th, 2011 at 3:11 am
Hi loving the kids shots its something myself i would love to get into, have been experimenting on my daughter, will be trying the old fashioned shots soon so it is great to see originals, check out my daughters photos of portraits on the following site…
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.168236729911660.38509.161890497212950&type=1
August 28th, 2011 at 5:53 am
when a kid watches Belly Dance. The expressions!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52932900@N05/6071951877/in/photostream/lightbox/
August 28th, 2011 at 7:36 am
I love this collection. Surely, our style of shooting kids has evolved.
August 28th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
i really liked couple of high contrast and high grained pictures…
August 29th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Great, thanks
August 30th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Great photos Darren. You’re right that they’re inspiring.
August 31st, 2011 at 10:21 pm
My grandma
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperboy/5675668122/
August 31st, 2011 at 11:45 pm
beautiful…makes my heart hurt.
September 18th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Interesting set of photos and yes the styles have certainly changed, although B&W still looks good!
October 26th, 2011 at 2:33 am
awesome shots
May 23rd, 2012 at 10:24 am
This is the style that I try to recreate with my work. I even add noise to give the illusion of film occasionally. I love removing all but the teeniest bit of color from photos to give them a hand tinted appearance also.
This is a link to my sessions gallery, because it is a page on my blog, I can’t isolate one particular set, but if you scroll down to the 5th one. Cory and Aristea you can see a good example, although there are some sprinkled throughout the 1st four sessions also
Hope you like them!
http://catherinelewisphotography.blogspot.com/p/photos.html
April 19th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
I personally love family photos taken in the front of a home. Decades later it is meaningful to see how the home, toys, pets (and cars!) figured into childhood memories.
April 19th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Beautiful! Now I want to sit mine down for a stylized portrait. I love looking at old family photos!
April 20th, 2013 at 7:54 am
Damn, I miss film photography.
April 20th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
What lovely photos and tintypes! I love the shot of the little guy getting ready to go skating with the pillow tied around him. How funny and cute.
May 8th, 2013 at 3:12 am
Inspirational ……
please check my facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Bloovers?ref=hl
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