How to take pictures of your kids
I have 2 kids and taking pictures of them is pretty damn tough. You know what’s tougher? Today my wife comes home from “Mom Duty” with a $140 bill from the Picture People. As far as I am concerned it’s a bunch of BS. Yes, I want good pictures of my kids but anything that costs more than a fresh ink cartridge is nuts….especially since their photographers are often times less qualified than my shoe.
Anyway, the point of this message is to share Darren’s wisdom. He just had a kid and he’s a photo guru. Before you spend a dime with a photographer, see if you can do it yourself.
Here are a few snippets from his site:
- Get Down Low – one key to many natural baby shots is to get down on their level. I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the last week or two lying on the floor next to Xavier. It’s something I think we both enjoy anyway but it’s also a great place to use your camera. Getting down low and getting in close (see below) does present some challenges in terms of focal length (I’m using a 24-105 zoom – usually at the widest focal length) but it means you end up with shots that feel like you’ve entered the babies world rather than you’re looking down on it from above.
- Close Ups – another way to improve the angles and make your shots seem more intimate is to get in close by either physically moving in or by using a longer focal length. I’d suggest a longer focal length for the really close shots is better than getting too close as shoving a big lens in your baby’s face could freak them out a little.
- Nursed Shots – some of the bests shots I’ve taken over the last month have been taken when people have been nursing Xavier. This puts him into a more upright position which makes him look a little more ‘human-like’ and opens up the angles for your photos. Try a number of positions (over the shoulder, sitting him up, laying him back in arms, lying him on his tummy etc) as each one opens up different possibilities. Also remember that your baby is not the only potential subject – parents, grandparents, siblings, friends etc all can add context to the shot and you’ll appreciate having more than just baby by themselves shots later!
PS – That’s my kid pic, not Darren’s!
PSS – Pic removed. Wife got freaked out, she doesn’t like our kids pics being posted
Read the rest at Digital Photography School
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