This is where you will now find ALL of my articles on
photography, design, working from home, and finding a work life balance. All of
my articles are available for personal or educational purposes and they may be
posted on your website if you follow these guidelines.
You may use one or more of my articles on your website. First use the form mail. All fields are required. I will visit your site
and make sure that our sites are related. I'll email you back with a go ahead
and the article (s) you requested will be attached in RTF format. You may place my
article (s) on your site for as long as you like so long as you keep the bio and
link back to my site active. My articles may also be used for educational
purposes one time printing only.
Children are naturally photogenic. I’ve worked in studios and children are so
easy to photograph. What I hear from parents is that they don’t think that their
kids are that easy to photograph. That’s only because they don’t know some basic
tips.
1. Young children especially infants take beautiful photos while they are
asleep. Keep the light natural avoid flash if at all possible. Keep the image
tight on the child and crop out distractions. For infants when they’re awake
you’re better off having another person in image, it gives the child someone to
interact with and you can crop the shot to keep the other person out of the
image or you can keep the adult and child in the photo.
2. Toddlers look best when they don’t know that you’re taking their photo.
Candid shots are the way to go for this age group. Keep your camera handy and
when they start doing something cute snap the photo quick. Remember your child
doesn’t have to be looking directly into the camera to take a great photo. Don’t
ever say to the toddler, “Oh how cute, now look here.” It won’t happen.
3. Children ages 4 plus are really good at sitting for photos. But if you’re
going to dress them up make sure that they are comfortable and don’t put them in
some outfit they hate, it will show in the image. Crop tight on your subject,
keep the light natural, and if you’re using a toy to get their attention make
sure that it makes them laugh and doesn’t scare them. (I learned that lesson the
hard way.)
4. Older children are really good at dressing up for photos. The hardest thing
will be getting a natural smile from them. Say, “cheese” is a sure fire way to
get a fake smile. Most of us learned young to smile automatically at that cue.
Here you have to get silly. One time I was working with a young boy and his
older sister. She was a natural smiler and loved being dressed up. He was not
happy and kept pulling at his tie. His mother straightened it for the tenth
time. I posed them and addressed the young boy I said, “Now on the count of
three I want you to say, “I hate this tie!” His sister smiled surprised at what
I said, and he grinned. I took the photo. He then screamed, “I hate this tie!”
Again both smiled wide and I took a second photo. The images turned out
beautiful.
I hope these tips help you to take better photos of your child. With a little
practice and a few tips you’ll see better family photos immediately.
Copyright 2005 Kelly Paal
Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting
nationally and internationally. She started her own business Kelly Paal
Photography. She has an educational background in photography, business, and
commercial art. Please visit www.kellypaalphotography.com for more FREE how to
articles.
