Children’s Photography
Children’s photography can be one of the most rewarding aspects of photography. But be warned, kids and digital photography can not only be a bit of a challenge but also very frustrating. However, the effort can be well worth it and good kids photographs can become lifelong treasures.
Now let’s go through a few important kids photography tips that should help you to take great kids photos.
ALWAYS BE READY
By far the most important tip in children’s photography is simply to be ready. Unlike older people, children’s movements are usually unpredictable and kids can move very fast especially if they are having fun. So you need to have the camera ready. The last thing you want is for your camera to have turned off automatically while you’ve been waiting for the perfect shot.
Most of today’s digital still cameras and video cameras have the advantage of excellent telephoto lens capabilities. This means that it’s not always necessary to chase the kids around to get good photos. Some of the best photos of kids that I have taken have been from a distance using a telephoto lens. The other benefit is that you are more likely to get candid shots as the children are unaware that they are being photographed.
GET DOWN TO KIDS LEVEL
If you are standing up, the photographs you take of kids may look a little distorted because you are shooting downwards. This is especially noticeable in photos taken fairly close to the subject. It’s not so bad if you are taking pictures of a group of children. The best way around this used to simply get down to their level and take the photos at their eye level. This is very important if taking portrait photography.
MOVE IN CLOSE
Although I previously said to use a telephoto lens there are times when getting close to the subject will give the best shot. Whether to get close or use a telephoto lens is a decision that needs to be made at a time.
TO FLASH OR NOT TO FLASH
Be aware of the direction of the lighting as this can have a major effect on the finished photo. If there is a strong back light you may find that the kids’ faces will be too dark. There are two alternatives to get around this. The first is to move them so that the light is not behind them. In very bright light this may cause them to squint. In that case use a flash to illuminate their faces.
If you’re taking photos indoors you need to be aware of the type of lighting and adjust your colour balance accordingly. It will probably almost certainly be necessary to use a flash in this case.
CAMERA TYPE
There is no hard and fast rule that covers the best type of camera for taking photos of kids. However, digital SLR cameras, if taking still photos, have better response times. By a response time I mean the time from when you press the shutter button to when the photo is actually taken. In most DSLR’s this time lapse is minimal. Also with DSLR’s you can shoot at 3 or more frames per second.
Children’s photography is not difficult. One of the best digital photography tips is to take lots of photos. That way you are more likely to get some that are exceptional.
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