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Between cranky babies and restless toddlers, photographing kids can be a daunting task. Before you, or they, get overwhelmed, try these simple tips that are used by the pros.
1. Get outside
Unless you have access to a beautiful, light-filled room, the easiest place to photograph kids will be outside. Try shooting on an overcast day or when the sun is low in the sky to avoid harsh shadows. If that’s not an option, seek out a shady spot.
2. Use window light
When you need to take pictures inside, try shooting near a large window. The diffused natural light will minimize harsh shadows and create a more flattering image (as long as the sun isn’t shining directly in). Remember to turn off any indoor lights, which can make your subject look yellow. Shooting in a white room or using a white reflector will help bounce light into the shadows and give your lighting a more even appearance.
3. Make them look at the camera
Shooting portraits of babies and toddlers can be frustrating, because they don’t know to look at the camera. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to grab their attention. If you have a camera with a hot shoe (the silver piece where the flash attaches), you can easily attach a colorful Pez dispenser by trimming the base with a pair of scissors. Another option is to tape a squeaky toy to your camera and squeeze it with your free hand. Any tricks you try will lose their power fast, so use them sparingly and only right before clicking the shutter.
4. Use a high shutter speed
Once kids start walking, it can be hard to slow them down. If you find yourself taking pictures of a child on the move, be sure to use a shutter speed of at least 1/250 to avoid blurry photos. If you’re shooting with a smart phone, download an app that lets you manually adjust your shutter speed.
5. Use a low f-stop
When shooting portraits, it’s good practice to use a low f-stop and avoid wide-angle lenses. (We recommend a 35mm lens or higher.) This will help blur the background and make your subject pop. If you don’t have a DSLR, you can get a similar effect using Portrait mode on the iPhone 7 Plus, which uses two lenses to create a blurred background. In this image, the photographer used a 50mm lens and set his f-stop to 1.4.