Tips for photographing your kids

I spoke at my local MOPS group a couple weeks ago. MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) is a great organization for moms with young kids ages newborn thru kindergarten. I've been involved for five years and have loved getting to know other moms in the same unique stage of life as I am. It's and encouraging place, they're positive and helpful and there's childcare which is a huge bonus...well, it's a must. So I got to share some photo tips with the MOPS moms. Below are a few tips for taking better photos of your kiddos.

1. Timing

• Time your photo shoot around your kids best moods:
• Make sure they’re well fed, well rested and at a time of day that they’re not usually grumpy.
• Be quick, shoot quick, - press the shutter button half way down to focus before you click so the camera doesn’t take as long to capture the expression.

2. Location

• Take them to a place they can have fun and enjoy while you’re photographing them – Park, Bridge, Beach

3

. Keep it Natural

• Lighting – use natural daylight, on camera flashes are too harsh

note: if your photos are blurry, then you need more light or the camera is focusing on the background instead of on faces, so pay attention to where the focal point is.

• Avoid direct sunlight – shoot in the shade or on a cloudy day or inside next to a window

• Work at getting a natural smile
• Start our by playing and interacting first, before taking any pictures. Set the mood of the photo shoot.
• Make it a game- play peek-a-boo, red light green light, have them say funny, silly words like “bubble gum” or “cheeseburger” instead of “cheese”.
• Ask questions about what things they are excited about.
• Have a funny face contest or play Simon Says
• Give them something to play with if they’re really young and have them show it to you then quick take the shot

4. Get down to their eye level

• This will help them interact with you and it’s a much more flattering angle

5. Focus on the eyes

-There is a lot of expression and personality in the eyes

6. Shoot them close up, fill them frame with their face

7. Be Creative

• Capture who they are in that moment - Don’t interrupt the moment for a picture, just capture what is there
• Instead of just trying for a cute smile, look for their fleeting expressions, things that they will soon grow out of,
• Show them in action. Take some shots when they don’t know you’re taking a picture or get all set up and them snap a quick one when they look up at you
• Shoot your kids interacting with each other, not just sitting there smiling
• Set up some fabric in the shade or next to a window to make a little studio.

8. Be Patient

Go at your kid’s pace and with their mood. Don’t force a smile when they’re grumpy. If they’re grumpy and you’re stressed, set down the camera and play with them for a couple minutes, then try again. If that doesn’t work; try the photo shoot later. We don’t want them having a bad experience and dreading the next time you try to take their picture.

9. Take a ton of pictures

-For action shots- take a bunch in succession

-Take a bunch of different angles, poses, keep them moving, you keep moving

10. Post Processing

• 
  
• Use the photo editing tools that are available to you on your computer or from where you order your photos from- cropping, black and white and lots, lots more
• Photoshop Elements ($70), iphoto, Lightroom ($170) use these for creating more contrast, brightening eyes, adding more color, making black & whites

and finally...

Finish on a good note

Let them take a picture while you hold the camera then show it to them of the LCD. Let them remember having fun during their photo shoot so they look forward to it the next time.