5 tips for better Children's Photography

by Mally Hartenstein of Mally Photography ( 2-Apr-2009 )

Here are some simple tips you can use to improve your results. Keep it Simple- This applies not only to the background but also to the wardrobe. Overly busy backgrounds distract from your focus- your subject. Take the time to place the subject in front of a plain wall or use a solid sheet or piece of fabric on the wall as a backdrop. When choosing clothing, color is good but stay away from large busy patters that will overpower the subject and take attention away from the face. Play with angles- You've probably already heard to get down on the child's level. That is true, however some of my favorite shots are taken from overhead. I usually have the child sitting in a cross legged position and get almost directly over them usually standing on a chair or small stool .The perspective of them looking up at you can be quite interesting and make for a unique photo. Also, have the child lay on their back with their hands behind their head with you above- Very cute! Fill the frame- The mistake that most photographers make is being too far away. Don't be afraid to zoom in close. If you forget, you can always use your photo editing software to crop in after the fact. Picasa which is a free Google download is an amazing program that will even give you various cropping suggestions. It is an amazingly easy program that will take your photography to the next level. Also- don't be afraid to cut off some parts of the subject. Some of the best photos are cropped so that some of the head/body- etc. are cut off. As long as it makes sense and adds to the photo composition- cut it off and get close! Be Candid- Have the child playing with some simple toys or props. Toys that make a noise or cause a reaction are best- bubbles-a toy that makes noise, jack in the box, blocks that fall over, etc. Allow the child to play with it and wait for that moment when they react. The squeal of delight, the look of surprise or concentration can all be endearing photos that capture the many faces of your child, not just the smile. If they are in a great pose and you want a little smile- you can say "cheese" but then WAIT about 1 second for the goofy "cheese" grin to subside and you'll capture a more natural smile. Turn off the flash- The on-board camera flash can be harsh and wash out the complexion not to mention cause the dreaded red-eye. Try placing you subject near a window and use natural light for your photo. If necessary a mirror or car reflector shade can be placed on the other side to bounce light back and fill in the other side of your subject. If absolutely necessary- you can use your fill flash, but back up a little and use your zoom lens to reduce the undesired effects. If you do happen to get red eye- Picasa can take it out with one click! Bonus tip- Go black and white- turning a photo black and white can produce a dramatic effect and take an average picture and make it exceptional. It is especially useful when you have a photo that you love but the color is off or lighting is not flattering. Sometimes these issues disappear in just by changing to black and white. I hope that you enjoyed these photo tips and that it will inspire you to get out there and take more photos. Check out these examples of how these tips work to ensure good children's photography, and don't forget that every now and then you should put down the camera and get into the picture! I am not affiliated with Google or Picasa in any way, I just use the program and love it's simplicity and features and recommend it highly. By: Mally Hartenstein