For the love of your subject
Kids should always be able to just be who they are, even on pictures. So, avoid posing-photos. Try action shots instead! Let them play, laugh, cry, get tantrums, run around, … The most moving pictures are not always images of kids laughing! Being themselves will help make them feel more comfortable with the camera. Some people tend to make strange cut-offs of hands and feet. This will make your picture feel awkward (a reason to avoid). Most smartphones nowadays have great settings like Portrait, Panorama, … play around with these functions and have fun with it!
It’s all about perspective and positioning
Time to get your knees dirty! Get down on the eye level of your youngster and make sure that your kid’s eyes are always sharp in your pic. Pictures taken on the level of your child will allow you to portrait more connection with the little model. If you are feeling whimsical, you can also play with perspective, by e.g., standing on a chair. This also gives fun effects. But remember to keep it safe! Last thing: try not to always position your kids in the middle of the image. Use the rule of thirds to make your pictures a bit more interesting.
Get outside
The outdoors is a grateful tool for taking pictures! Outside, you have better lighting, your kids can play freely and last but not least: nature makes the best background! As the photographer, stand with your back towards the sun for best lightning. And play with colour! Try to find backgrounds that incorporate colours that match your kids clothing. But make sure the backgrounds are not too busy.
Ready to get started? Let us know how your pictures turned out! Tag us on Instagram (@smartmaxsocial) or Facebook (@smartmaxsocial)!