Tips for Photographing Children

My child is the main reason that I'm a photographer. Wanting to document his life was the motivating factor to purchasing a camera and learning the art. Being a Utah Family Photographer has taught me a lot about photographing children. Some shoots have been far more successful than others, and some have been much less successful than. In a previous hub, I spoke about the reasons I decided to invest in photography.

From the experience I've had, here are some of the tips that I find important when photographing children.

1. Every moment is a photo-op. I love the image above of the little Nike Shoes. I wasn't looking for a shot like this, but one day on vacation my son was looking out over the ocean and I was able to get that shot. There are so many pictures I love of my son that I wasn't expecting to take. Make every moment a photo-op and you'll be sure to find some great images.

2. Timing. With children, it's all about timing. When doing a photoshoot with children be sure that you catch them in the right moods and at the right time of the day. I think however, that how long you take is key. We all know, kids don't have the largest attention spans, so in some cases, you may only have a handful of minutes to really get the shots you want.

3. Go digital, you can basically take as many photographs as you want. For the purist, film is the way to go, and I'll admit that film has a quality that's hard to match. However, for the most part, majority of the world is moving towards digital. The great thing about the digital revolution is that it allows you to basically take as many images as you want. Therefore, fire away.

4. Sometimes a prop does the trick.  The right prop will use space well and sometimes can take a photo from "okay" to "spectacular".  With kids, props also are great to keep their attention and keep them in the right place.  Use props to entertain children.  I also use them to share context about the kid's personality and what they like to do.  I knew a photographer who did a photoshoot for a family and they wanted their kid to have a "rocker" look, but still preserve his youth.  Enter a guitar hero guitar...the perfect touch.

5. Candid shots are great.  Some of my favorite photos that I've taken of children are when they aren't posed.  Catch them in their own element with their parents, siblings, friends, and you'll capture amazing moments.  This is where a telephoto lens really pays off.  Remove yourself directly from the activity and fire away from a distance (not in a creepy way of course).  The child will soon forget you're there and really open up.