Professional photographers are great at documenting the whole family with creativity and expertise, but how can you continue to take great pictures of your kids as they grow and develop throughout the year?
If you don’t have a miniature pro photographer in your pocket (ok, that’d be weird) ready to take photos of your kids at all times – no worries, I am here to help! Taking better pictures of your kids is something you can learn with a bit of practice and by implementing some fun, creative techniques.
I’m going to share six awesome ways you can capture your family’s unique experiences each and every day, while keeping your photos fun and fresh! These are creative strategies I incorporate into every single photography session I shoot!
I’m here to help you get the best shots of your family trip to the zoo, those adorable baby thighs (don’t forget the details!), and that impromptu 5 minute puddle jumping session.
Taking Better Pictures Won’t Cost You a Cent
Many people may believe that buying a fancy camera will make you a star photographer, but the truth is you don’t need an expensive camera or lens to achieve great photos of your kids. Buying fancy gear won’t change your ability I’m afraid.
Learning creative strategies is the first step toward making better photos – that, and taking tons of pictures. So instead of going on a shopping spree, let’s talk about a few easy ways you can step up your photo game and get dynamic and fun pictures of your kiddos while you’re waiting for your next photo session.
OK, let’s begin!
1) Perspective
One of the easiest ways to tell a story that’s dynamic and pulls the viewer in is to take a new perspective. Sometimes that means getting down really low or perhaps you’ll find yourself standing on your kid’s bed. Changing your perspective invites the viewer to question the context of the image in a new and exciting way. Providing a new angle can definitely intrigue the viewer and call attention to a seemingly dull moment.
2) Movement
Lights, camera, action! Get ready to embrace the crazy. Don’t worry about images that aren’t always in focus. A running child who’s out of focus can set the mood for how the moment felt. In fact, that’s the true impact of a good photograph – it makes the viewer feel something.
Stop action (or freezing the motion) is also fun, especially when you can see the expressions on the subjects face – this can add to the story and again, make the viewer feel excited, joyful, or even a bit nervous. For example, when your kid is jumping into a chilly pool. You want the viewer to feel the way the subject feels! A great way to do that is capturing the apprehension on her face just before she hits the water.
We all know that kids are movers and shakers, so don’t be afraid to photograph all their fast-paced activities. Embrace the crazy.
Tip: For freeze-framed action shots, a shutter speed of 1/500 or higher is ideal! If you’re shooting with a camera where you can’t control the shutter speed, you’ll have the best luck with fast-paced images in a location with LOTS of light.
3) Details
Don’t forget those chubby fingers, untied shoelaces, or a picture drawn by your child just for you. Get close and photograph the small details of your child’s dynamic world. Bandaids, dirty toes, the way they snuggle their blankie or toy – these are all significant items to keep a ‘diary’ of.
Consequently, it’s a great way to avoid background mess too! If you take close-up photos, nobody can see your leaning tower of laundry or your untidy kitchen!
Are you anxious to learn more? I still have three more ways you can take better pictures of your kids! It only gets more exciting from here!
4) Use Color
It’s probably been a while since you’ve taken an art class, but try to remember how color can make you feel or direct your focus. Incorporating color theory into your daily snapshots is a great way to make your images more interesting and impactful.
Take notice of the colors surrounding you. If your kid’s wearing a blue jacket and you’ve just passed a yellow door, that calls for a photo op! This color combination creates a very appealing photo. Colors opposite one another on the color wheel create contrast. Contrast draws the eye in!
A pop of color in an otherwise colorless image can also help draw the viewer to the focal point, ehem… your subject!
Fun decorating idea to implement with your kids: Together, organize a portrait of your kid to hang in their bedroom by using props and/or backgrounds that match the colors in their bedroom. Set up the scene together, and snap some fun pics of your child. A collage would be cool too! The result will be a personalized photo shoot with a color scheme that perfectly compliments your child’s bedroom!
5) Shoot Through Something
Here’s where some real creative fun comes in to play! I love shooting through stuff – I shoot through everything! What do I mean by shooting through something? Take an object, perhaps start with a curtain or get behind a plant and use this object to frame your subject or hide a messy corner of the room. Shooting through an object creates depth in your photo, can serve as a frame for your subject, and also add a softness to the composition. The cover image of this post was shot through a paper towel roll!
6) Connection
This is one of my favorite things to capture. There’s nothing better than pictures which capture that ‘perfect moment’ – like when siblings hold hands (wait, does that happen?), grandma gets a slobbery smooch from the baby, or when your child rests their hand on the head of your pup. These are the moments that make up our lives and that we want stored in our memories. We love photographs mostly because they tell a story of our relationships with one another. It’s important to document it- not only for you, but for generations to come! And the thing is, your kids will like seeing these photographs the most!
Try It Out With Your Kids
Well, those are my top six tips for taking better photos of your kids! I hope they encourage you to get creative, take more photos of your kids, and fill your walls and albums with memories.
I created a quick little cheat sheet that you can carry around with you to practice these little creativity exercises and to help remind you of all the ways you can take better pictures of your kids on a daily basis.
Show Us What You’ve Got!
If you try some of these ideas and get better pictures of your kids as a result, share them with me on my Facebook page or in the comments! I’d love to see how you’ve used these tips with your own family!
Are you interested in getting more photography tips? Let me know! I’d love to whip up another post with you in mind. So, let’s hear it? What are some things you’d like to know more about? And if you want to be notified when I publish other photography related blog posts, subscribe to my newsletter. I’m not a spammer. Promise.
One last note from your local friendly photographer: a photo saved to a device is not the best way to enjoy photography and it certainly isn’t very practical to view them each day that way. Print your photos! (Dismounts gracefully from soapbox)
