Comments on: Photographing Young Personalities With Fun Props

By: John

John — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:24:15 +0000

Your tips are a great help. I save them and go back and review them.
Keep me on your list…I look forward to receiving them.

By: frombrandon

frombrandon — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:02:58 +0000

Woops, I lied. I went back and check and this one was the 30. Sorry! (By the way, I keep all my EXIF data in tact on Flickr so you can check out all my exposure settings there.)

By: frombrandon

frombrandon — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:01:34 +0000

@den_lim,

I used both a Canon 50mm 1.4 and a Sigma 30mm. This was the 50mm mounted on my 1.6x crop XSi.

By: MeiTeng

MeiTeng — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:43:13 +0000

Good tips! Thanks for sharing.

By: den_lim

den_lim — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:45:58 +0000

What lens did you use?

By: frombrandon

frombrandon — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:08:04 +0000

Sure do appreciate all these comments, guys! Thanks!

By: debbe

debbe — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:44:46 +0000

great timing. I have done children in photoshoots but still look for new and exciting props. Your ideas are so natural and simple it couldn’t come at a better time.
I have 2 photoshoots this weekend with young children. I’ll be looking for the wow factor.
It would be helpful to hear about angles.
thanks.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:02:33 +0000

i am a preschool teacher and love taking photos of my kids best when painting!!!! yep, painting it is…. :D kinda messy as a prop but i love it more when their hands have paints or their faces…. and when they let me see their work – their eyes just seem to glow!!!!

ANother fun photo op is when they are playing in the sand, or in a small pool (you know those air pumped ones) and a lot of floating balls!!! :D

my kids are so used to seeing me with my dslr on my neck (when i dont have it, they actually look for it – maybe they think it’s a part of my body already) and this way, they are not the “say cheese” kind of group anymore… and they also get to be aware of how to take care of (my) camera. ;)

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:38:11 +0000

Good article Brandon, nice photos. And April great tips. “April Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

“Certain toys will not be let go of without bursting into tears (which ruins the shoot immediately), and some (like you mentioned) get messy or don’t suit the style of the session.

Also, do not—under any circumstances—allow the child to see more than one prop at a time. Otherwise you will end up with lots of toys crowding the child, and the child will be lost in the picture. This is a mistake many parents make (give them anything they want so they’ll just smile). One toy/prop at a time. Always.”

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:02:26 +0000

Great ideas, especially for those who don’t have kids.. I’ve always found that the best ones of my son were the ones where I told him to look up and I clicked before he realized what I was doing.

I photograph newborns everyday and I carry an arsenal of props (mainly letter blocks and ribbon) and I have moms EVERY DAY say “look how cute THAT is” when I put their brand new baby on their tummy and write their name with the blocks across the curve of their back… longer names like “Christopher” and “Samantha” are even cute because the names are longer than the babies.

Props are a great idea and I LOVE children and sidewalk chalk!! I’ve even seen it for engagement pictures, too.