Shooting good-quality photographs of children can be a challenge. They don't stand still, they don't follow instructions well and they bore easily. This doesn't stop millions of parents from taking random snapshots of their children. The unfortunate result is many poorly lit, badly framed, blurry photographs of kids. It doesn't have to be this way. With a little patience and planning, anyone can shoot good-quality photographs of children.
Instructions
1. Shoot quickly. Children move fast, so your camera must also be fast. If you are using film, choose ASA 400 unless you are shooting on a bright, sunny day. In that case, use ASA 100 film. If you are using a digital camera, choose one with a very short delay. Some digital cameras have a frustrating second or two pause between button push and taking of the picture. Children often turn or run away during that pause.
2. Put the children in the spotlight. Light is an essential element of photography. There must be light shining on the faces of the children, or they will not be clear in the photo. When taking photographs of children, stand with the brightest light source behind you. That way children will look into the light when you snap the picture. A bright light source can be the sun, a bright artificial light or a flash.
3. Get rid of shadows with a fill flash. Light coming from behind or from the sides of children will cast shadows on them. Get rid of these by setting your camera to flash even when there is enough ambient light. You can do this by setting your camera to manual and pressing the flash button until a lightning bolt symbol appears. A fill flash gets rid of shadows and brightens the subjects of the photograph.
4. Fill the frame with faces. The best pictures of children reveal what they are thinking by showing the expressions on their faces. To capture this you must get close. Cut out unnecessary surroundings so that the only thing you see is their heads. Put the camera right up in their faces but don't get closer than 2 feet. Pictures closer than that will be blurry unless you use a macro lens. Don't use your camera flash close to a child's face. It will blind her and wash out her eyes and skin.
5. Catch children being children. The best photographs of kids are of them playing. Watch them and lay in wait with your camera. When you see something cute about to happen, prepare your shot by pressing the button halfway. This will focus the camera and reduce the delay in snapping the photograph. Click the button at the perfect moment.
6. Let the children ham it up. Kids love cameras because they like looking at themselves. When they see a camera, they often pose and demand that you take pictures. Indulge them but take advantage of this enthusiastic cooperation. Ask them to do something they otherwise might be reluctant to do, such as hug a sibling or strike a pose. The children may change their minds in an instant, so work quickly.
7. Keep taking pictures. With digital photography, you can take as many as you want, then delete the ones you don't like. Many of the best photographs are captured unexpectedly. It is better to take a picture, then throw it away than to never take it at all. Film costs more money, but the idea is the same. You will miss a lot of great pictures of children if you are worried about saving film.
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