Children are probably the most photographed subjects worldwide. Photographs are a great way to document the events and growing of children throughout their early lives. Use these tips to gain the best results when shooting photos of children.
- Most of the time, you’ll want to move your camera to the eye level of the children. Crouch or kneel when shooting the photos to make sure you’re at eye level with your subjects. Not only will your photos then provide a full view of the child’s face, but your flash will provide better results. (If you shoot from above the child, your flash may create unwanted shadows on the child’s face.) There will be certain types of photos that will look better when shot from above the children, but, most of the time, shooting at the eye level of the children provides the best and most consistent results.
- Children always seem to be on the move, so have your camera ready. You never know when that “once-in-a-lifetime” shot will be available, so be ready. One "trick" you can try is to shoot in shutter priority mode, which will allow the camera to "freeze" the action, which is important for avoiding blurry photos when shooting images of children who always seem to be on the move.
- You also should be ready to shoot several photos to make sure you get the one you want; children might not always cooperate when you are trying to get them to “behave” for a photo. If your camera offers a burst mode, consider using it to make sure that you end up with plenty of photos. You can shoot a few photos back to back to back in burst mode, which can be helpful in this type of situation.
- If you want to be in the photo with the child, try using your camera's self-timer mode. Here, you can set up the camera to shoot up to 10 seconds after you press the shutter button. So, set the camera on a table or counter space, press the shutter with the self-timer activated, and move into the scene with the child. Shooting a photo in this way might allow the child to be more comfortable and relaxed for shooting the photo.
- Related to the previous tip, don’t feel like you always need to get children to “behave” for the photo. In other words, shoot plenty of spontaneous photos of the children, too. Capture them playing, relaxing, eating, or something else ... even sleeping or having a time out. Staged photos are great, but those candid photos can prove memorable, too.
- If your camera has a good movie mode and can record sound, be ready to shoot some video. Some actions by children just translate better to video than still photos, and, if your camera has a good video mode, you won’t have to carry a separate still digital camera and digital camcorder. Most still image cameras today do a pretty nice job shooting video. They aren't as good as a standard video camera in most cases, but they do an adequate job.
- If you want a camera that does both video and still images well, consider a DSLR camera that also can shoot HD video, as those tend to have the best combination performance.
- If you want a camera that is better at video, while still offering some still image options, consider a dual camera.
- Finally, consider creating a family tradition that involves a special photograph. For example, shoot a photo of your child every year next to a tree he or she helped plant. You’ll be able to document your child’s growth and compare it to the growth of the tree. Or, shoot a family photo in the same location every Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, or on another special holiday. Looking back at the annual photos will provide a cool set of memories for you.
