| If you like photographing your kids, it can be both | | | | ensuring you obtain the best possible shots. Given |
| rewarding and profitable. Taking pictures of your kids | | | | most your kids have difficulty sitting through a |
| is no easy task and if it\'s something you don\'t love | | | | photography session, you will not have time to win |
| doing, the child (or your kids) you are photographing | | | | them over; knowing their likes and dislikes, their |
| will know, making it that much more difficult to get | | | | fears, their favorite things, to name a few, can be |
| the shot you want. | | | | extremely helpful. |
| Some of the most common techniques used in | | | | Above all else, get your camera ready to go - |
| photography will not necessarily work when taking | | | | second chances to capture an impromptu moment |
| pictures of your kids. Telling a child to \"freeze or | | | | don\'t come around very often (if at all) when |
| \"hold it will not make much sense to them. Children | | | | photographing your kids. |
| will often do as they please so it is the job of the | | | | In most areas of photography a tripod is great for |
| photographer to anticipate what a child is about to | | | | sharp photos. However with child photography you |
| do and be ready to capture it. | | | | do not always have such a luxury. Once they reach |
| YOU can turn this into your advantage: Since your | | | | the moving around stage, a tripod limits your ability |
| kids don\'t always do what you want them to do, or | | | | to capture expressions and poses. Be mindful of your |
| what you expect them to do (actually they rarely | | | | camera settings - keep that shutter speed fast |
| do!). A solution often is: don\'t expect them to | | | | enough to prevent blurring - and be ready to move |
| become a cooperative little adult merely because you | | | | quickly! |
| want to take their picture. Trick them - expect them | | | | There is no limit to what you can capture in a shot |
| to act like your kids. Don\'t expect anything in | | | | when photographing your kids; it can be anything |
| particular. DO this and you can enter the fun and | | | | from climbing on or out of something, to taking their |
| profitable field of child photography. | | | | shoes and socks off. The more experience you gain |
| Know your stuff - Before you start booking sessions | | | | photographing your kids, the more you will know |
| with your kids you must know exactly what you are | | | | what works for different age groups. |
| capable of doing - what your camera is capable of | | | | There is no question that photographing your kids is |
| doing - what all your equipment is capable of doing. | | | | a challenge. And just when you might start to feel |
| Operating your camera and equipment must be | | | | comfortable doing it, along comes a new challenge - |
| second nature. Have your style of photography | | | | multiple subjects. Dealing with twins, triplets, etc. will |
| down pat, so when you start a session your mind is | | | | really test your skills as child photographer! But don\'t |
| on the your kids). This takes your complete focus. | | | | worry, this is part of the job and over time you will |
| This is not the time to be fiddling with you camera, | | | | learn tricks to keeping all your subjects engaged. |
| or trying to figure out your light setup. Children take | | | | When capturing a child or your kids on film, get |
| 100% of your concentration. For some your kids the | | | | creative when trying to get their attention; use |
| entire shoot may only last 10 minutes - though you | | | | different techniques and use them quickly as you |
| feel you have just run a marathon - so you have to | | | | won\'t have the time to try again. Using a digital |
| be able to get in position , get the most cooperation | | | | camera can help in this regard as there are no limits |
| from the child, get great shots. At times, this has to | | | | to the amount of exposures you can take and |
| be done very quickly, BUT you cannot make the child | | | | luckily, you can look at the pictures very quickly as |
| feel they are being rushed. | | | | you go. |
| When photographing your kids, expect anything and | | | | Brothers and sisters can also play a vital role in your |
| everything to happen. If you have a better | | | | photography session with your kids. Siblings may |
| understanding of the various behaviours of your kids | | | | actually be more successful than parents in getting |
| at certain ages, it will go a long way to being able to | | | | their brother or sister to laugh, cry, smile, or make a |
| capture the images you want thus increasing your | | | | funny face. Use the comfort level a child feels with |
| financial gain. In addition, knowing what you can | | | | their sibling to your best advantage and get the |
| expect from a child at age two versus one at age | | | | pictures you want. Another bonus to having sibling |
| five, will help in keeping your clients satisfied. | | | | present, is that the parents may decide that they |
| During a session photographing your kids you can get | | | | too should be photographed- all this means a bigger |
| a variety of poses, expressions and antics. In no | | | | photo package for the client and more money for |
| other field of photography are you liable to get such | | | | you! |
| variety. The more you learn about little ones the | | | | Take your act on the road - You can do child |
| better child photographer you will be. Children are not | | | | photography at the park - on the beach - in the |
| just your kids until they become adults -they come in | | | | backyard, just as easily as in a studio or home - |
| all sizes. Between four months and four years you | | | | maybe more so - and nature will take care of the |
| can place them into quite a few categories: 4-6 mos, | | | | lighting for you, as long as you select open shade. |
| 6-12 mos, 12-18 mos, 18-24 mos, and then you can | | | | Items to have on hand: Depending on the ages and |
| lengthen out the age span. Awareness of these ages | | | | whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors you |
| are needed to help you - the photographer - be | | | | need a supply of items to catch and keep their |
| aware of the limitations your kids (especially little | | | | interest and that look great in a photo: rattles |
| ones) have. | | | | feather dusters soft toys dolls hats mirrors a |
| Keep in mind that parents can play a key role when | | | | telephone (the bigger the better) a big whistle |
| photographing your kids. They will be able to tell you | | | | duplicate toys (for twins & overly competitive |
| certain things about their child that can go a long way | | | | little ones) treats & snacks. |
| to helping you through the picture session ultimately | | | | |