Tips for Photographing Your Children
As mothers, a lot of us can relate to how important, yet fleeting, the little moments are. Because of this, below are some tips and tricks to help you photograph your children’s important moments in a new way.
Drop Your Expectations
The worst mistake you can make when photographing your children is putting too much pressure on one specific shot or idea This doesn’t mean that you always have to photograph them documentary-style with no interference. Photograph your children with intention and a general plan, but prepare to act on your feet if everything unravels. If you become frustrated that you aren’t receiving the response from your children that you need to capture the image you are expecting, it’s going to translate to your child. They are going to completely withdraw any interest in continuing participation in front of your camera, and you don’t want them to associate the camera as an uncomfortable task they feel forced to participate in.
Be In The Moment
As soon as you pull out the camera, you need to get on their level and be present. Unless you are taking a “fly on the wall” approach to capturing everyday life, your children need to feel a connection with you. It's no secret that children don't like being told what to do, so make them an active part of the equation. Talk to them about the ideas you have. Show them your camera and explain what you need from them. This gives them a sense of control, and they will feed off of positive encouragement. This approach communicates well with my 5-year-old.
Another approach you can take is using milestones as a method of entertainment. A two-year-old would probably like water play, shoveling dirt into a bucket, or reading a book, whereas an eight-month-old baby might like sitting up in a bowl, playing with toys, or eating new food. Dive into the things that your children enjoy doing and incorporate them into your shoot. For example, my five-year-old enjoys singing, dancing, running fast towards the camera, and pretend play.
Get Creative
After you’ve incorporated all of the previous tips, it’s time to turn it into art. Once you are rolling with whatever you’re getting from your children, the composition can change what the image is saying and make it more interesting. Creative composition could be things like using a step ladder to shoot the scene from a bird’s eye view, getting low to the ground to capture a significant foreground, or shooting through a break-up of bushes or flowers to create a unique framing. These techniques will add a story to your image. For more photography tips, check out my mentorships.
