When you have cute kids on hand why not practice? Kids can be the most difficult subjects to photograph! I know there are so many moms, dads, sister, aunts, uncles, and grandparents that want to be able to capture those kids.
"BUT THEY MOVE SO FAST!"
"They wont sit still for the camera"
"they wont smile!"
These are just a few of the difficulties that we encounter when we photograph kids.
1. Each child is so different, so there is something that makes each child difficult to get a great picture of, But each child has their perks too when it comes to photographing them! Find those perks and work with them!
For example, does the child have a Big Imagination? Then stand back, and let them imagine, if possible put on your zoom lens, get out the childs space and them them play! Capture their imagination!
2. Don't worry about posing! Kids pose themselves! If they wont look at you, take some of them looking away, get their profile, or their eyelashes from above. Get them looking up at the sky. Sometimes kids don't want to follow your lead, so follow theirs!
3. If they will follow directions, chances are they wont look exactly how you want them too when you say look at me with you hands on your hips, they will do it the most awkward difficult way possible, so say things like, hands on your head, on your belly, on your sides! Snapping pictures the entire time!
4. Do you have a little one that just WONT look or smile at the camera? My little secret...shhhhh... don't tell... its my hidden weapon! PEAK-A-BOO, instead of covering your face with your hands use your camera!! Its GENIOUS!! They will stare at the camera anxiously waiting for you to pull it away and yell PEAK-A-BOO!!!!No pride! You must act like a crazy person! If other people in the room are laughing at you, good.. act crazier and MAYBE the child will laugh too!
5.Don't worry about smiles! A smile or 2 is cute! A giggle is fun! But take advantage of those sweet faces that kids make that may not be a smile!
6.Let them make some decisions, "where do you want to stand?" How do you want to pose?" Or instead of saying cheese ask them "what do you want to say?"
7. Camera settings! If you are shooting in anything other than Auto, you will need to know a little bit more about camera settings! I could do an entire blog on just this, but I will just keep it brief for this one. Shutter speed= HIGH!!! Don't think you are going to shoot a child at 1/60.. you need to be up in the 200 at least!
8. Get down to their level! Try shooting from their eye level! You may need to get on your knees, or tummy, but it will add a very FUN perspective!
