Ask any professional photographer which subjects are among the most difficult to capture, and they will most likely say children. But with the proper preparation, the right camera settings and some specific shooting style, you can get shots that show them at their happiest, most natural element.
Here's some amazing tips on how to take great photos of your kids:
1. Make Them Comfortable
The first thing a great photographer does is make his or her subject as comfortable as possible. A natural smile is always better than a semblance of an artificial grin, so do your best to settle them down for a marvellous photoshoot.
Start a friendly conversation to get them talking. Ask simple questions about happy things, such as what their favourite snack is, their favourite toys or their favourite cartoon shows and pretty soon they'll be conversing with little encouragement from you. Play a bit of peek-a-boo, or run around and play with them to liven things up.
Tip: Get at ground level for really great shots – TheCanvasFactory
2. Kneel, Crouch and Get Down on the Ground
Most photographers are accustomed to standing up when capturing moments on camera, but when taking kid photography it simply won't do. The angle is such that you may end up taking shots where your kid's head appears bigger; instead of taking pictures of their facial profile, you get the top of their heads.
A change of perspective equals getting better pictures because you're viewing it from how they see the world. Don't be afraid to get down on your stomach, on your knees and play on their level. You'll be surprised by how great the pictures are from this way. The kids will see someone who goes down and shares the world from their height, which makes them more comfortable, allowing you to get more fantastic shots.
Photo credit: Pixabay
3. Fill The Frame
This is a technique most professional photographers use, and it works as well when trying to capture the perfect shot of your kid. The camera's frame should only hold most of the subject and one or two points of interest. Move about and compose your photos of only what you consider as important; crop the picture to your children's face as they blow the bubbles, and take away the other parts to fill in the photo frame. A zoom lens is quite useful to work in this case, as you won't have to spend precious time walking closer to the subject to fill in the frame.
4. Let Them Play
One of the best places to capture amazing photos of your kids is in a wide, open-spaced playground where they can run about and play. You'll need to prepare to capture their fast motion with the right camera equipment- set it to a fast shutter speed or use the sports scene mode to prevent any blurs, distortion or anything that could ruin a fantastic shot.
This is a great chance to try out and experiment with different angles, capture them doing different actions and incorporate bright, colourful elements to enhance your kid's photos. Be creative, move about and don't be afraid to take as many pictures as possible.
5. Time It Right
Finally, you'd want to get the photoshoot going right after your kids have had a snack and have rested, and right after a fitful nap. This eliminates some unnecessary tantrums and fits which could prove to be detrimental in your quest to capture the perfect picture of a smiling, happy kid.
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