On Monday I shared about the Beautiful Baby Contest that’s being held on the “LIVE! With Regis and Kelly” show. As the mom of 6 boys there have definitely been times that it’s been difficult to get that elusive picture of them.
So I thought I’d share just a few of the things I’ve done over the years to help the process. I cannot say that any of these ideas are anything but simple nor can I say that they work 100% of the time, kids will be kids, but they will up your chances of getting a great photograph.
General tips for photographing children…
- Make sure you don’t try to photograph a child during their naptime.
- Make sure they aren’t hungry.
- Bring/prepare favorite toys, stuffies or other items that will make your child happy and/or keep their attention.
If you are taking them to a professional photography studio…
If you think choosing your child’s outfit for the pictures is the most difficult part, think again. Once you get there you may find yourself presented with a plethora of challenges you never anticipated, even if the child has done well in the past.
Toddlers and Preschoolers are renown for their ability to be fickle creatures. If your child is going through a fearful stage be prepared for the possibility that you may get there and find that you need to reschedule.
If you are taking their picture at home…
Taking your child’s photograph at home is an excellent idea if you are experiencing challenges taking them to a studio, whether it be because of time, location, cost, etc. It’s also not as difficult as you may believe to get a good photo yourself.
You don’t need the best camera or to spend a bunch of money on props. Here’s what you do need…
- great lighting
- a decent camera
- a little creativity to create a backdrop and “stage” for your photos.
Taking the photos outdoors on a slightly overcast day solves almost all of the issues with home photography. That doesn’t mean that the children will be predictable, but gives you the best lighting and takes away the need for backdrops and props as you can simply choose a nice location in the yard or even at a park to take photographs.
Be prepared for the child(ren) to want to wander a bit, whether indoors or out. I’m not beyond bribery so I will often offer them a reward for cooperation depending on their age.
When photographing indoors, you’ll need to come up with a lighting solution that works for you, some lights will make things look almost orange, and if it’s not light enough your pictures will usually end up looking grainy.
I have taken some amazing photos inside the house though, the twins’ 9 month photos were very cute and all that involved was some creative draping of a sheet, a wicker basket that I happened to have around the house and a ton of photos taken.
Keep in mind that it isn’t unheard of to get only a couple great shots out of 100 taken. Aren’t digital cameras beautiful in that respect??? It doesn’t matter how many photos we take, we’re not wasting film and we can simply delete the terrible ones and keep right on going.
Overall though, just be patient. If today’s photo session doesn’t work, try again tomorrow or next week. If the child starts wandering off, take a moment to let them play then try to re-engage them in the photo session.
Last tip: Take candid shots often. Keeping a camera handy and fully charged at all times can result in some amazing photos. Spending a day playing outside with the kids? Some of the greatest photos I have taken are of them simply wandering around the yard, swinging, riding a trike, playing golf, sitting in the grass looking at a bug.
Seriously simple but fun, candid, beautiful photos can emerge from those simple moments!!!
If you have a tip for a great photo session with young children, please leave a comment and share it.
