Take Your Best Shot: Tips for Photographing Your Kids
November 18, 2009 by Amy L. Hatch
Filed under Lifestyle, Parenting in CU
Champiagn photographer Shannon Anderson says that sometimes a change of scenery can help you get the perfect shot of your child for the mantel or that pesky holiday card. Credit: Shannon Anderson.
By Amy L. Hatch
You know what’s hard? Getting a great photograph of a kid. You know what’s harder? Getting a great photograph of two kids, one you can use on a holiday card or put in a frame on your mantel.
Now that I have two wee ones at home, nearly every snapshot I take has one kid grimacing like a torture victim and the other wearing a smile that belongs on the face of a serial killer. In desperation, I turned to Champaign photographer Shannon Anderson, who took the fantastic photos of us for chambanamoms.com.
Anderson, who is expecting her first child this winter, offers these expert tips to make getting the perfect capture less painful for everyone involved.
Q: Do I need a fancy camera to take good pictures? How can I get good shots with my point and shoot if I’m not ready to invest in an SLR?
Anderson: There are some definite advantages with a digital SLR camera, but it’s not necessary for getting some great snapshots of your kids — composition will go a long way. Try to minimize clutter in the background by moving yourself, not trying to move your child.
Also, try to organize your frame in thirds as much as possible. By having things slightly juxtaposed it is much more visually appealing. Most point-and-shoot cameras these days have great settings such as “portrait” and “action.” Try to use the settings as much as you can, and read your manual!
What is the difference between an SLR and a point-and-shoot?
Anderson: SLR stands for single lens reflex. SLR cameras have removable lenses and have a reflex mirror which allows true viewing through the lens taking the image. They use a mirror that allows you to see the image you’re shooting through the view finder. When you click the shutter, the mirror flips up allowing the sensor to capture the scene.
With SLR cameras your possibilities are vast. By changing out lenses and camera settings on your camera your images can have completely different looks. With point-and-shoots, you are limited to one lens and usually a small amount of changeable settings which usually causes them to struggle in low light situations and other lighting situations. The quality of digital point-and-shoot cameras have vastly improved in the last few years, making them perfectly acceptable in many situations.
My kid moves all the time, they never look at the camera. How can I compose a good pic?
Anderson: Like I said before, be prepared to MOVE! Photographing children means you are going to have to get down to their level — and climb up to their energy level. If they are crawling on the floor, lay on the floor with them.
Always try to have your camera settings ready to go long before you come to take their picture. You don’t want to be fooling with your camera and miss a great moment! Try to make picture-taking fun and hopefully you will get some real keepers.
Where should I take my pics? The flash gives everyone red eye.
Anderson: Everyone likes the sun, but unfortunately it’s not the most ideal place for portraits. The best place to shoot is in open shade with enough light so that you won’t need a flash. Your subjects will look crisp and clean without wonky shadows or washed-out skin. Try the side of a house or tree, or just wait for an overcast day.
My kid won’t smile. How can I get a grin?
Anderson: A change of scenery usually helps, but if not, feel free to bring in reinforcements! Having another person to act goofy really goes a long way. Some parents use bribery as tool but if your child struggles with “fake” smile syndrome, bribery won’t do the trick. For some reason strangers are good at getting kids to smile, most of the time.
When I take pics of my kids together, one of them always looks bad. Got any tips for managing group shots?
Anderson: This is always tough. Try taking them somewhere new. Getting away from the same fireplace shot every year might just work. Sometimes the excitement will make them behave. If you can’t do that, try to capture them being “who they are.” Some of my favorite images are the ones where kids are interacting with one another.
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My trick for getting natural smiles is to ask for a mad face, a monster face, a sad face, a silly face, until the child can’t help but give you a natural smile. With a digital camera you are not wasting film, and some of these pictures maybe treasures themselves.
Are there any good classes in town that would teach me the basics of photography or using an SLR camera?
Also- what is a good “newbie starter level SLR camera?
Kimberly — I have the Nikon D40 SLR. Very intro; I love it. I think Parkland College has classes like that.
I am not sure what the best beginner classes in the area are but I am assuming Parkland has a few options.
Some good intro level DSLRs would be the Nikon D40 or the Canon Rebel. Both are decently affordable and versatile. Good luck!
Thanks for the feedback- most excellent! Now, where can I go that someone will read the manual to the camera for me and tell me how to use it?
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