From personal experience...
I love photographing kids. They are always so full of emotions and energy, and their enthusiasm is simply contagious.
We've all been in that situation where we try to capture the perfect picture of our child, but they just won’t stay still. They run around, get too close to the camera, and misbehave in general—right?
In my early days as a family photographer, I missed countless amazing shots because I couldn’t quite figure out how to manage these energetic little ones, despite my natural affinity with kids.
Over time, as I photographed more families and interacted with countless children, including my own lively 2-year-old, I began to understand the key to capturing those perfect moments. I scrutinised every shot, every behind-the-scenes moment, and every interaction with the tiny humans. Through this experience, I’ve developed my perfect strategy!
How to photograph kids
I. Make it a game.
Engage with them! Turn the shoot into the game, where you can play, chat, run and laugh with them. The more you are like them, the more they like you. They will start to trust you and there will be more opportunities for the great picture.
II. Don't force them into a pose.
Try telling your 2-year-old to stand still, and you will get what I mean :) They are kids! Last thing they want, is to stand still and pose for some silly camera (unless you work with older girls (6-12), they love "striking a pose" and I absolutely love them for this! So forget all that, calm parents down so they are not stressing about it, and just get them to enjoy the time with their babies - and you will see parents getting more relaxed and engaged. Those beautiful moments of interactions, is what you really want to capture - those are the best!
III. High shutter speed or continuous shoots
You can make it work with slower shutter speeds, but you will have to try hard for this. Kids, one minute they stand still, another - running across the room (or field or something), so if you have a shutter speed below 200, you might see one blurry photo afterwards (unless, this is the picture you are going for!). Alternative - set your camera to continuous shooting, this will buy you those few mili-seconds of precious time before they disappear again.
IV. Opt in for a daytime shoot
Ideally, after their nap (if there is one), and when they had some food. More you drag into the evening, more tired they will get. Although it might be quite tempting due to the "golden hour", and in the day time, there is more harsh lighting, you can always shoot in the shadowy places, or just embrace the light and roll with it.
IV. Be patient.
Patience is key. Child is a child, and he will run around, play and misbehave. But why not do that together (just make sure your camera is always at the hand on a stand by!), and keep snapping!
To sum up...
Even if your first family shoot didn't go as planned, don't get discouraged. Take the time to experiment with your camera settings and analyse what didn't work. The most important thing is to keep shooting. Each session will teach you something new and help you improve. Over time, you’ll gain valuable experience that will make you a better photographer. Remember, persistence and practice are key to mastering your craft.
