Photographing children is never usually an easy task. Getting them to sit for a portrait can be a frustrating experience so we thought we’d pull together some useful kids photography tips.
Get down to their level
This is perhaps the best tip to photographing children. Firstly by crouching down and lowering the camera to their eye level you will tend to allow them to relax more. Secondly the shots you take will tend to relate to them more, as if the photograph itself was taken through the eyes of a child.
The world is a different place when seen from 1/2 meter high. Get down on your knees and see it from their point of view.
Work at their pace
Children can (and usually are!)be very independent. Telling them to sit very still, smile and look at the camera generally doesn’t work. Rather than trying to get formal shots like this go with the flow and let the child have some input. Ask them how they want to pose, ask them to give you a nice big grin, in short encourage them but try not to instruct them.
Work at their pace, if they are bored and have had enough so be it, get some more shots later and take a break.
Make it fun
As mentioned above instructing kids will not work (for very long if at all. Try to make their photo shoot fun. If they think it is a game or sorts they are far more likely to give you some nice poses.
If you’re struggling to get them to pose why not pull out some fun props to keep them entertained. All that was needed for the shot below was a 5 dollar toy gun and the words “gimme a 007 pose”, I was expecting a big grin but the steely serious look works wonders in this shot!
The Open Eyes Method
If you are really struggling to get a good shot with a smile and eye contact there is one tried and trusted way to get the shot you want. Simply as them to shut their eyes and not open them until you say so. Ask them to smile when you tell them to open their eyes. 9 times out of 10 they will smile, open their eyes and immediately look straight at you allowing you to get a good shot with them looking right down the lens.
Ok, so I didn’t get a smile in the above shot but at least I got some good eye contact!
Work in their environment
Kids hate being out of their comfort zone. If you can photograph them in their own environment they will instantly be much more relaxed and more likely to give you much more natural poses to photograph.
Rather than trying to get them to sit still on the nice seamless white background set you’ve constructed try instead to look for suitable backgrounds to use in their own environment.
Do Something Fun
Sitting for a portrait session is boring for an adult, never mind a kid.One great tip is not forget about a studio portrait and just try to photograph them doing something fun, enjoyable that they actually like doing.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Like all aspects of photography you might finds you don’t get the shot you are looking for first time round. Some children may take 2 0r 3 shoot sessions before they truly relax and trust you. As a result be prepared to make a return visit and be persistent to get the best results.
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