Tips for Photographing your Own Kids
When it comes to your own kiddos, I know how sometimes it can seem impossible to get great photos of them yourselves. I wanted to put together of tips for photographing your own kids, so that you can feel confident in capturing all of life’s moments! Working with a professional photographer is an incredible experience (if I do say so myself), but I know there are so many times you want photos taken, and you can’t have a photographer all the time!
1. Lower Your Expectations
Okay, let me explain! Children are unpredictable, and when you’re doing an impromptu photoshoot, you don’t want to hold too tightly to control. If you’re trying to capture natural moments of your kiddos being themselves, unbothered, the last things you want to do are: force unnatural posing or interrupt the moment. Let your kids be who they are in whatever moment the photo captures, and enjoy it! It doesn’t have to be a magazine-ready shot to be a beautiful keepsake.
2. Make Them Laugh
Some of the best pictures you can get of your kids is when they’re laughing. That raw, joyful emotion that accompanies a burst of genuine laughter can become a favorite image you’ll cherish for years and years. I think as parents, we all know how to make our kids give us an eye roll, but laughter can be a bit more difficult, especially depending on their age. My advice? Speak their language! Make a comment about their favorite show, say something totally random and ridiculous, make a joke about yourself– there are boundless choices here. No matter what you have to say (or do, I’m all for slapstick comedy!) to get a laughing shot, I promise you it’s worth it.
3. Make Yourself Small
Get down on their level, and see the world through their eyes! Not only will this make them think of the photo session as a little game, but it will make them more relaxed. Having an adult standing over you, pointing a camera in your face is probably not the easiest thing in the world for a child! If you even the playing field, you’ll get to see things a little bit differently. How do their surroundings look to them? What is it like when they’re running around? You can capture all that and more by changing your perspective, and your camera angle.
4. Use Natural Light
As a lover and firm believer in flash photography, I will always tell you that it’s your friend. But if you are learning to photograph your kids, use natural light. Then you have one less thing to worry about. It doesn’t matter if you’re inside or outside, using natural light will help you take incredible photos of your kids. In your home, you will learn which rooms get the best light, and you can use that to your advantage. Outdoors, you can use the surrounding to manipulate the light to get a better photo. If you’re at your home or a place where your kids can roam freely, they’ll be more at ease. Children tend to let their more raw emotions shine when they’re in spaces they feel comfortable.
5. Have Fun!
This may be the most important among the tips for photographing your kids, though it might seem obvious. You know your little one better than anyone else on this earth! Looking at them through a lens and stopping a moment in time is an incredible way to feel like you’re getting to know them even more. We all know our children grow up way too fast. Taking time to get some beautiful, authentic photos of their every day lives can be one of the best things to look back on when they’re older. Not only that, but it brings you closer as a family, living together in the present moment and reveling in the magic of it all.
Let’s Get In Touch!
If you have any questions about taking photos of your kids, please reach out! Check out this article for some more helpful tips. If you’re wondering about film photography or lifestyle photography, learn more in those articles! Head over to my Instagram for announcements. Of course, should you need a Coeur d’Alene lifestyle photographer, I would be so happy to work with you and your family.
