5 Practical Tips for Taking Better Photos of Children
Capturing every precious moment of your child’s life is something we all strive for. But let’s be honest, getting that perfect shot isn’t what’s most important. What truly matters is capturing the authentic moments – the genuine smiles, the spontaneous laughter, and even the occasional tears. These are the memories you’ll cherish the most. Using these tips, you can better capture these authentic moments and create beautiful, meaningful photos that reflect the true essence of your child's personality and the joy they bring into your life. Whether you’re using an iPhone or a DSLR, these practical techniques will help you focus on the moments that matter most.
1. Get Down to Their Level
Why It Matters:
Photographing from your child’s eye level creates a more intimate and engaging perspective, making your photos feel more personal and connected.
How to Do It with iPhone:
• Hold your phone at your child’s eye level. Use the grid feature to keep your horizons straight.
• Use Portrait mode to focus on your child’s face and blur the background.
How to Do It with DSLR:
• Kneel, sit, or lie down to be at the same height as your child.
• Use a wide aperture (like f/2.8) to create a shallow depth of field, making your child stand out against a soft background.
2. Embrace Natural Light
Why It Matters:
Natural light creates a softer, more flattering look compared to harsh artificial lighting and helps avoid the red-eye effect and harsh shadows.
How to Do It with iPhone:
• Take photos near windows or outdoors during the golden hours (just after sunrise and just before sunset).
• Avoid using the flash; instead, adjust your position to make the best use of available light.
How to Do It with DSLR:
• Use natural light sources and avoid direct sunlight, which can cause squinting and harsh shadows.
• Adjust your camera settings to suit the lighting conditions, such as increasing the ISO in low light.
3. Capture Candid Moments
Why It Matters:
Candid photos often capture genuine expressions and emotions, making the pictures more heartfelt and meaningful.
How to Do It with iPhone:
• Keep your camera ready and take lots of shots while your kids are playing or engaged in an activity.
• Enable the Live Photos feature to capture the moments just before and after you take the shot.
How to Do It with DSLR:
• Use burst mode to take multiple shots in quick succession.
• Focus on capturing interactions and reactions rather than posed photos.
4. Use Burst Mode for Action Shots
Why It Matters:
Kids are constantly on the move, and burst mode allows you to capture multiple frames, increasing your chances of getting that perfect shot.
How to Do It with iPhone:
• Hold down the shutter button to enable burst mode and capture a series of photos in rapid succession.
• Review the series of shots and select the best one.
How to Do It with DSLR:
• Set your camera to continuous shooting mode.
• Track your child’s movement through the viewfinder and keep the shutter button pressed to capture the action.
5. Focus on the Eyes
Why It Matters:
The eyes are the most expressive part of a person and can make your photos more compelling when they are sharp and in focus.
How to Do It with iPhone:
• Tap on your child’s eyes on the screen to set the focus point before taking the shot.
• Use Portrait mode to ensure the eyes are sharp and the background is beautifully blurred.
How to Do It with DSLR:
• Select a single focus point and position it over your child’s eyes.
• Use a fast shutter speed to avoid blur, especially if your child is moving.
Conclusion
Taking great photos of your kids is about capturing their true essence and the joy they bring into your life. By focusing on authenticity and emotion rather than technical perfection, you can create photos that are meaningful and timeless. Remember to get down to their level, use natural light, and embrace candid moments. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to capturing the beautiful, spontaneous moments that make childhood so special.