Photo Tips for Parents — Delaware Child Photographer

Parents frequently ask me questions regarding how they can take better pictures of their children with their OWN camera. And while I can’t always get into detail concerning a specific camera (since every camera is so different), there are certain principles and tips that can help everyone to take better pictures. I’ve decided to start including tips in each of my e-letters, and I’ll also include them here on the blog. If you click on the “photo tips for parents” link in the menu above, you’ll find this ever-growing list of tips. I shared this first one in the last e-letter.

Do you have any specific questions you’d like me to answer? E-mail me at preciousmemoriespix@gmail.com and I’ll include your question here.

Get down to their level

When it comes to photographing your own children, one of the most effective tips I can offer is this: Don’t be a lazy photographer! The lazy photographer just points the camera down towards the child. The ambitious photographer makes the effort to get down to the child’s level (fully understanding that yes, in about one or two seconds the child will inevitably move away and you’ll have to get up and try again). It can be a real workout trying to chase after a child and then stooping down to shoot right at his or her level. My thighs sometimes burn after a shoot with kids! But the results are always worth it. Especially when you get a shot of your child looking straight ahead into the camera instead of looking up at you.

{Sidenote: Here’s a photo of me at work. And if you’re saying to yourself, “Wow. Those are the worst roots I’ve ever seen.” You’re right. They are. I was in the middle of growing out color. But don’t worry, I have since rectified the situation!}

Additionally, when you’re focusing your camera, aim right for your child’s eyes. You might have take a picture or two (or 20 … or even {sigh} 100) before you nab a good one … but that’s ok! Eventually you’ll get one you love.

Avoid bright lights

Bright, overhead light can absolutely wreck a portrait, as it can lead to squinting and harsh shadows, particularly under the eyes (aka, raccoon eyes). At times, you’re forced to shoot in these conditions. Perhaps, for example, you’re taking pictures of the kids at a pool party at noon on a sunny day. But for those times when you decide to hold your own mini portrait session, improve the “session” dramatically by allowing the light to dictate where you shoot. This is particularly important with child photography, as kids’ eyes tend to be very sensitive to light and therefore squinting comes quite naturally to them on a sunny day (especially for those with fair eyes). Here are a few suggestions:

• Avoid being out in open areas between 10 and 2, as these are the hours when the sun is brightest. During these hours, seek out shady areas, such as the shady side of your house, or under a tree. Or work indoors in a space where the light fills the entire room.
• Take advantage of the gorgeous, gorgeous light that happens first thing in the morning, or in the twilight hours of the evening. Watch out, though! Working with the amazing light that naturally appears during these hours is completely addictive!
• Head outside on a totally overcast day. The clouds act as a giant diffuser, which means the light is soft and beautiful. There’s no squinting, no need to seek out shady areas, and no shadows. It’s a photographer’s dream, really.
• Try the other side of the street. If you’re on a street like Main Street in Newark, for example, notice that one side is shady, and the other is sunny. This, of course, changes during the day. But no matter what time of day it is, usually one side is shady. Stick to that side of the street.
• Use natural reflectors. If you’re working in a shady area, such as an alley or a sunless area in your yard, look for sources of natural reflection. Your white garage door, for example, acts a giant source of light. If your child is facing the garage door, it will actually brighten his or her face without the use of a flash.
• Pay attention to the light. Slowly, but surely, as you notice the “wheres” and “whens” of the light in and around your home and neighborhood, choosing the right spot for pictures will become like second nature. You’ll instinctively know the ideal time to shoot in your backyard, front yard, living room, etc.
• Use light to get that “twinkle” in his or her eyes. Have you ever wondered how photographer’s manage to capture a sparkle in their subject’s eyes? You can do it, too. The sparkle is a reflection
  of light. The subject must be facing an area that is brighter than the one he or she is currently in. Working with window light is a fabulous way to achieve this look. Have your child sit or stand so that he or she is facing a window. Obviously, your back will be towards the window, so just be careful not to block all of the light. Rather than asking him look up at you, or out the window, engage him in a conversation so that he’ll look right at you. Start snapping!

A word about flash. Except for when I shoot weddings, you will rarely see me pull out a flash. Even at a wedding, I avoid the use of flash during most of the day. This is my personal style. Other photographers will encourage the use of flash, especially on bright days. Flash can be used to “fill in” the shady areas of a face. I encourage you to experiment and find the shooting style that works best for you! Check your camera’s manual so that you can better understand all of the options available to you, including manual shooting options which are an integral part of taking good pictures with or without flash.