Capturing pictures of our kids can be tricky but is easier with a little preparation. Here are a few tips and tricks for better children portraits.
1 - Make it fun
Taking photos of your kids should be fun for everyone involved. So, get them doing something they love, hype it up, put on some music, and try to take them as they are. I find this especially important with teens. Let them play their guitar, skip the rocks, stand with their hands in their pockets or sit with a contemplative pout. You may get a few grumbles at first, but they will usually let you take their photo if they are engrossed in something they like.
2 - Get them involved in the creative process
Even the little ones can get involved, making the set or picking the outfit. With my toddler -just explaining what I am up to usually gets her excited to get in the photos. If you have a more creative teen, they may even like coming up with new concepts.
3 - Remember they don’t always need to look!
I think this really depends on what are you trying to document, but I still felt like it was important to note. Don’t force kids to look at the camera for every photo, especially not if they are absorbed in a fun activity.
4 – BUT if they are looking, focus on the eye
When looking at a portrait, the first thing we usually notice is the eye of the subject. It is a powerful tool to convey emotion and draw the viewer to our photo. So, when taking a photo of your child, get down to their level and be sure that the eyes are in focus by setting your focus point directly on one of the eyes.
5 - When outside, use soft light
Try to look for soft light to avoid harsh shadows on their face. To do that, look for clouds or shade. You can also try to take your pictures when the light is softer because of the angle of the sun, so right before or during sunrise and right after or during sunset. Finally, you can always get creative and use a semi-transparent drape or sheet to diffuse the light hitting your pet.
6 - When inside, look for natural light
Get the kids playing near windows so you can get photos of them with soft natural light. Find the pockets of light in your house and capture them in them. For example, in most hallways, you will notice beams of natural light coming in from the windows or doors, so take a picture of them sitting in one of those beams or running through it!
7 - Get closer
If the background isn't important or is really busy and distracting, get in closer for your shot. Try to capture the emotion and the little details of your child. Take a good look at what is in the frame. Is there a tree branch sticking out of their head? Are there lots of colours and things popping out behind them that are not important to your photo?
8 - Prepare
I love candid photos; I probably take hundreds of them a week, but my best photos take a little preparation. Want to capture a cute daddy-daughter moment? Why not build a blanket fort in front of your biggest and brightest window and set them loose inside during the bright midafternoon light? You'll be able to capture lots of beautiful authentic moments in a setting of your design.
9 – Watch your shutter speed
If you want to capture some action shots, consider increasing your shutter speed. Even cell phone cameras will let you increase the speed if you go to your pro settings. I recommend starting at 1/200ths of a second, eliminating some movement blur from your photo. Have fun and play around with that setting! Don’t be afraid to even add in a little blur (slow it down) for a few photos to tell a story.
10 – Practice, look to others and try again!
Just get out there and take some photos! The more you do it, the more you’ll get the photos you want. Don’t forget to look to others for inspiration and techniques. Finally, don’t be afraid to try a concept more than once if the the mood wasn’t quite right or you did not get the photo you had hoped for the first time.