Funny, isn’t it? For every 100 pictures of the first baby, there are just 10 of the subsequent kiddies. Baby pictures dry up the same way once the babe turn two. I suppose some of the novelty has gone by the time number two comes along, and of course, that is often while number one is just a toddle. Mum’s probably too tired to think about the camera, and dad’s pretty exhausted as well, now that there are two or three to look after. Or is that chase after?
One of the main difficulties in photographing infants is that they don’t do much. From about age two, however, if your camera has a continuous shooting mode it might be worth keeping it turned on. They just don't stay still!
Once you do get the camera out, you may find it’s that it’s often the second or third shot in a sequence that is best. Shooting just one frame at a time can mean you miss these. Another benefit of continuous shooting is that you can end up with a great sequence for a montage or series.
Working with Kids - If you are going to be working with kids, get set up in advance. Older children might have the patience to sit still for a few minutes while you decide on the point of view, set up a tripod, adjust your camera settings, change lenses, adjust your flash and reflectors – even if they have the attention span, they will have lost any spontaneity!
Setting Up - If you must get ready while they watch, either involve them in the process, or let them “run riot” until you have everything to your liking.
Posing children is the easiest way to make them feel and look uncomfortable. For natural photographs with children, set up your camera and lighting in an area where they normally play and photograph them while they do so.
An alternative is to create an area for them which happens to include your camera. Depending on their ages, set them up with paint and paper, include blocks or action figures or dolls, give them some balloons, a bubble machine, or dress-up clothes to get into. Then be patient; when the toys have taken their attention, and you have become just a part of the background, the pictures will come and they wick have a more natural and candid feel to them.
Technique - As suggested in other ‘photographing children’ Intel, get down to their level, fill the frame, and watch your background.
Burst mode (continuous shooting) is really helpful, while setting up a tripod establishes a formal space. A tripod also lets you get away from the camera to interact with your subject. Even so, many of your kid shots will be hand held because that lets you move the shooting angle and point of view, try different approaches, play they way they play.
Try to fit into their routine. Go to the park with them and their parents, visit their house when they are painting pictures, get them to take you on a tour of their room or take them out to play their favourite sport. While they are engaged in their normal activities, hover around (at their level) and take plenty of shots.
Include their parents in some of the pictures, and get plenty of background shots. In later times they will treasure the memories that these “context” shots generate.
Keep an eye open for those unplanned moments when someone trips or fall over, watch for quirky expressions and if they ham it up for the camera, get those pictures, too, but don’t make a fuss about them, or they may become all you get from then on.
Sometimes a more formal shoot is required and you cannot employ these methods. Again, try to have everything set up in advance, and if you will be shooting in their territory (home or school) try to arrange a visit the day before if the children don’t already know you.
Hang out with them and take your camera. Not all kids are shy about photos, but even if they are, once you start taking and showing them photos (has to be digital) and letting them handle the camera (doesn’t have to be your “good” one) they often get excited and start posing and playing up for the camera. When you turn up for the session next day everyone is on familiar territory and ready to have fun, yet at the same time, some of the novelty has worn off and they may be a bit more settled.
Involve the kids in the session, whatever their ages; try asking them what kinds of pictures they want of themselves. Shoot these and if you are working in digital, review them with your “models”. A big screen, like a laptop, is a great help.
If there are a few kids involved, you might get better involvement if they get to take some of the shots (and if you have a second camera, you will get some nice pics out of those interactions!).
Vary your Point of View and focal lengths. Taking pictures with a wide angle lens can be particularly effective when getting in close to children. It opens up the possibility of unusual angles and gives all kinds of interesting perspectives. A 17-40mm zoom lens is brilliant for this. It still allows you to zoom in a little but at 17mm the impact is amazing.
A longer lens will be particularly useful if the child is distracted by you taking photos. 200mm is a useful length and within the capacity of many compact cameras.
Your Approach - The key to good kid shots is your own inner child. Kids embody the unexpected, the love of experiment and discovery; they love to play. Approach photographing them in the same spirit and your pictures will reflect their natural qualities.
Be patient: you have to when photographing grown-ups, and even more so with kids. Keep it light-hearted and don’t let your exasperation when they won’t make that shot you envisioned happen. Nothing will shut down a good shoot faster than when you show frustration or impatience with a child.
Last point – Don’t spend all your time behind your camera – you need to make direct eye contact with the kids - if you hide behind your camera all day, looking through your viewfinder to find that perfect shot, you’ll lose your connection with them.
