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Kelly is a mom and award-winning photographer in the Dallas
Metroplex. She specializes in on-location black and white portraits of
babies, children, teens and their families. Kelly understands the
challenges of taking photos of children, as well as the joys of
capturing the magic of childhood. She has created this guide for readers
of MetroplexBaby.com on how to take better photos of children in seven
simple steps.
Take Better Photos of
Your Children
Seven Simple Steps Using
Your Point and Shoot Camera
 Perhaps your yearly attempt at a family
photo for a Christmas card looks like this! You might be worn out trying
to get your children to look at the camera and smile, or maybe you are
disappointed each time you look at the back of the viewfinder to see
that you missed the moment, your baby looks too dark, or his head is cut
off. What went wrong? The following seven steps will hopefully shed some
light on the subject and help you fill your children’s albums with
special memories. You just might have a great Christmas card to send
too!
1. Notice natural light
One of the biggest problems with amateur
photos is that they are either too dark (underexposed) or too bright
(overexposed). Becoming aware of how sunlight falls on an object is the
first step in correcting this problem. Morning and evening light is very
soft, so both are great times to take photos. Because midday light is
extremely harsh and casts dark shadows (think raccoon eyes), it is best
to try to avoid photo shoots at that time. On the other hand, both
overcast skies and full shade offer flattering light that illuminate the
face evenly. If there is not enough light in your subject’s eyes in
these situations, place him near something bright that will reflect
light back onto him, such as a sidewalk, white wall, or even a silver
sunshade made for cars. Indoor photography during daylight hours works
in much the same way. Place your subject near a window or open door.
Notice how the light falls on him differently when the window is on his
side, in front of him, and behind him. If the subject is backlit, then
without some sort of reflector, you will notice the face will be very
dark. If this is not your goal, the subject is underexposed, but if you
know how to use the backlight to your advantage, you can produce a
beautiful silhouette. Start to study light and notice it everywhere you
go!
2. Beware of
backgrounds
  Another common mistake is being unaware of
backgrounds. Amidst the oversized sofa, baby swing, and toddler toys,
there is a little baby in which one almost needs to pull out a
magnifying glass to see! The easiest solution for this dilemma is to
fill the frame with your subject. Move in close either physically or
automatically, if you have a zoom lens. By eliminating all the clutter
in the background, the viewer is now enabled to focus attention on the
baby’s adoring expression, tender skin, and beautiful face. When you are
out taking photos, look for plain backgrounds in your surroundings such
as a solid colored wall, or a large green plant. Believe it or not, I
took one of my favorite bridal portraits in front of a bright yellow
wall just feet away from a smelly dumpster!3. Perspective
You are a giant looking down at your baby
through the viewfinder. To add visual interest, simply squat down so
that you are face to face with your angel and you’ll get a beautiful
portrait. Being on his level draws the viewer into the emotion of the
photo. If you want to be creative, try various angles and heights, or
use something to frame your child’s face. Turn your camera vertically
and fill the entire frame.
4. Have fun
 Nothing is wrong with a traditional photo of
a baby and his siblings smiling straight at the camera. However, when
exasperated moms and dads instruct, beg, and plead their children to
look at the camera, smile and say cheese, the shoot becomes a burden. If
one is ultimately rewarded with a smile, it is almost guaranteed to be
fake and forced. Instead, try to go for a more natural, fun look,
capturing your children’s true personalities interacting with each other
and their environment and doing what they love to do.
Here are some ideas to capture candid shots
of your children without losing your mind:
A.
For babies older than two
months have an assistant shake a rattle behind you to get the baby to look towards you. It’s
rather difficult to shake the rattle and take the photos! Try not to
obsess over capturing a smile as all baby expressions are cute, even the
crying. Then think outside the box and take profile pictures, close-ups
of baby’s fingers and toes, etc.
 B.
For toddlers and preschoolers,
have an assistant blow bubbles. Blow the bubbles up high and you’ll have
some opportunities to get some great shots of them looking up. Remember
to set your point and shoot to “action,” or if you use manual settings,
set your shutter speed higher to freeze the action.
C.
Engage kids in an activity
such as blowing bubble gum, petting animals, reading a book, playing
with cars, or singing a song that has motions such as “Itsy Bitsy
Spider” or “I’m a Little Teapot.”
D.
Tell jokes to older children
and ask them to tell you some. Be ready to take the picture right as you
deliver the punch line and you’ll capture some “real life” expressions.
If you don’t have an arsenal of jokes up your sleeve, typing in
“children’s jokes” in a search engine will yield numerous results.
Memorize a few of your own and you will be set.
E.
Have siblings tell each other
a secret or tickle each other.
F.
If nothing else works, bribe
them!
G.
Keep the photo shoot
relatively short because we all know most children don’t have very long
attention spans. Even if they are having fun, they are on to the next
activity in no time.
5. Learn and practice
The very fact that you are reading this
article means that you want to improve your skills. Check out some
library books, and take continuing education courses at your local
community college. Read your camera manual.
Practice on still life. If your baby is
mobile, you realize that chasing him around with the camera is much
harder than when he was and infant who just lay still. Practicing on an
inanimate object stirs your creative juices and helps you learn about
light. Photograph the object at different times of day in the same spot
and record the times. Go back and review the photographs and variations.
This will prepare you to recognize how the light will look on your
child’s face.
Browse
through magazines for photographs that catch your eye, cut them out and
keep a notebook of your favorite photographs. Soon you will start to see
a common thread in them and find your own style in the process. Maybe
you will notice that you love black and white. Or perhaps you like
quarter length shots the best.
6. Composition
Have you
ever looked at a photo you took and it was ¾ sky and ¼ your child’s
head? Maybe you even had what you thought was a good picture, but the
subject was smack dab in the middle of the photograph, and the photo
lacked interest. The solution is what photographers call the “Rule of
Thirds.” A “rule” sounds scary, but it’s actually very simple. Imagine a
tic-tac-toe board. Place your subject in any of the intersecting lines
and voila! You have an artistically composed photograph!
Another way
to artistically compose photos is to look for curves and lines. For
example, a curvy road or river would add interest. Look for unique
shapes and textures in your shooting environment.
7. Focus on the eyes
Sharp eyes make a portrait. Take your time
to press the shutter release half way to focus and then snap the photo.
Many blurry photos can be prevented by holding the camera as still as
possible.
Become aware of light, have fun, take a lot
of photos, and document those milestones! If you are willing to practice
and continue to learn, soon you will have so many excellent pictures
that you won’t be able to choose just one for your Christmas card!
To find out more about Kelly's style or to schedule an appointment,
visit her website at
www.photographybykelly.com or her blog at
www.photographybykelly.blogspot.com. |
