Photographing your children is a great way to document their childhood and capture precious memories. Taking good pictures can be as simple as picking up your phone and camera and snapping a quick photo, but if you want to take it to the next level it’ll require some creativity, practice, and patience. By implementing some minor changes to how you currently take photos, you’ll start to see the quality improve.
Use Baby Bloomers and Stylish Clothing
Some photo sessions are spontaneous and you don’t have the chance to plan things ahead of time. Other times, however, you can have a plan in mind for how you want the photo session to go, everything from the outfits to the location.
If you’re planning an upcoming session, be mindful of the clothing you pick for your children. Sometimes simple clothes can have a bigger impact on the overall shots. If you’re photographing a baby or a toddler, baby bloomers and a onesie in a solid color are all you need for a perfect outfit.
Try to stay away from dark colors and patterns because they’re distracting. It’s best to stick to pale colors or pastels. Avoid logos and prints, and try not to over-accessorize.
Be Patient
Patience is one thing you’ll need to practice when it comes to photographing your child. Some children are natural behind the camera, while others want nothing to do with having their picture taken. It helps to know your equipment ahead of time so you’re always ready to snap that perfect shot.
If you want to go from using your phone to an actual camera, you can start with a beginner DSLR. They’re good enough to take great pictures while being easy enough for beginners to navigate. Get plenty of practice so you feel confident with the features available to you. Don’t get discouraged if your photos are not coming out the way you want them to. Take time to watch videos and do some research to find out what you may need to improve upon.
Don’t Worry Too Much About Posing
Some of the best photos you take of your children will be candid photos. Those are the silly ones, the ones where your children are comfortable and completely natural. There is nothing wrong with posed pictures, but those can be quite stressful for very young children who don’t want to sit still and smile for the camera.
Candid photos are unique and just require you to follow your children around with a camera (or a phone) and wait for that right moment. Utilizing burst mode can capture multiple photos at once so you have a better chance of capturing the moment you were hoping for. Try to blend in with the environment rather than letting your children know you’re snapping photos.
Utilize Natural Lighting
Nothing beats natural lighting when it comes to quality photography because it produces a more organic feel. Natural is less overwhelming for children, it’s cheaper than buying studio lights to use, it’s flattering, and it allows you to be more flexible.
Shooting this way does require some practice and knowledge of when to shoot. When the sun is low on the horizon right before sunset, your photos will have golden and warm tones. When the sun sets, the sky will have a blue hue and change how the photos look. Midday shooting is when the sun is the highest and can help you create high-contrast photos.
Learn Basic Photoshop Editing
Taking good photos is one part of photography. Editing is another large part of how the photos turn out in the end. It’s a personal choice if you want to edit them or not, but proper editing can increase the quality and make them look better. If you want to edit your photos, you can try some free apps or teach yourself how to use Photoshop.
When it comes to editing, keep it simple and avoid going overboard. Some basic editing tips you may want to learn include cropping, straightening images, spot cleaning, adjusting the white balance, adjusting contrast and exposure, and adjusting the vibrance and saturation.
Photography should not be stressful for you or your subjects. Keep the mood light and let your kids run free and capture the side of them when they feel the most comfortable.
