Comments on: Photographing Children – A Quick Tip

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:02:03 +0000

I have also found that shots of kids crying are interesting. In my experience, capturing the season of the child’s life as it really is keeps it real and kids aren’t smiling all of the time–sometimes they cry and the raw emotion makes for very cool pictures.

By: Peter Phun

Peter Phun — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:39:14 +0000

If you're the family documentarian as I am, I have my camera all the time. That way when I hold it up, they don't even blink anymore. I carry a point and shoot with me all the time. Having a camera with me all the time allows me to observe and capture moments without protest from my kids and family. Read some tips of my own for photographing children

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:11:18 +0000

I’ve found that the worst thing you can do when taking pictures of kids (especially younger ones) is to say “smile”. Smiling is not something younger kids know how to consciously do and it almost always looks forced.

I try to make them smile or even laugh by making stupid faces or whatever works for the kid. Sounds obvious, but it took me awhile to get out of the “say cheese” habit.

By: Ryan Azad

Ryan Azad — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:08:30 +0000

oh good…was getting scared for a second about the poor baby ;)

By: anne glasser

anne glasser — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:28:01 +0000

Hmm. Just in case anyone is wondering, I am talking about the feathered boa, not the snake!

Anne :)

By: anne glasser

anne glasser — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:29:21 +0000

I have found another great thing to do with babies is to use what is around you. For example: One day I wanted to take some creative shots of my baby, so I grabbed a boa, stripped her naked, put her in the pose I wanted, using the boa to cover parts. I put the extra boa piled up behind her to create an interesting background. Then I put a small flower tucked behind her ear.
Another time, I grabbed a big mixing bowl, set her inside it with a large wooden spoon next to her and a few ingredients in front of the bowl (egg, bakers chocolate.. etc.). These were all items I had around the house that made great, creative and fun shots.
I have also found using natural lighting, as much as possible, really makes a picture look great.

Anne :)

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:22:39 +0000

One thing I like to remind people about is that when it comes to kids, one size does not fit all. 4 year olds are nothing like 8 year olds. And if you treat a 11 year like a 3 year old, you might as well just pack everything up and go home.

Make sure you keep in mind that each child will be different. There are no tricks that always work. Get to know the child. Understand how they think and what they want. Children have brains and are WAY smarter than grown-ups give then credit for being.

The pictures you are trying to take of the child, the ones that people just love, capture the spirit of the child. Unless you know yourself what the spirit is…you are just taking snapshots.

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:45:35 +0000

My other favorite tip, one I have to repeatedly tell me kids’ granddad, is to get down to the kids’ eye level instead of shooting the tops of their heads. Does he ever take notice, does he heck as like.