Photo Tips with Emilie: Photographing Children

I came across a fabulous Utah photographer and she’s going to be post a monthly photography tip. She specializes in children photography and educating the Mommy Photographer.

Here is a photo of Emilie and Santa. She has it hanging in the studio and claims that she is one of his live-away-from-the-north-pole-elves and reports all good smilers to Santa directly.

Here’s her tip…
One of the more difficult challenges when photographing little one is keeping them in one place long enough to snap your shutter. Do you have a busy busy little one? No matter what you do you can’t snap quick enough to get a good photo!?! I’ve got some tricks for you.

Here are a few of my best trick and tips to get great images
of challenging little ones.

2. For those little runners out there. Kids that won’t sit still is one of my most common challenges. My best solution is to put your little ones on a chair. Little legs can’t run away if they are sitting on chair. Use the Smarties as a reward for not dashing away.

Here are some examples…

The chair also adds some fun vintage style to this image.

Instead of a chair we used a dresser, same concept.
Look how darling her little feet look crossed like a princess.

2 above images – Same shoot, different chairs,
different way to use the chair both help me control
one busy little boy and a busier little puppy.

Not a chair, but the same concept. This busy little one
can’t go anywhere. Not to mention how the cute buggy
really ads to the image.

Again, not a chair but the same concept.

Again, not a chair but the same concept. This is my
nephew and he thought sitting in this tire was so cool
and just smiled and smiled. This tire made my job so
easy and that’s what I’m look for during every session.

3. What if they just want to run? When you can’t stop them – join them. Find a cute backdrop and turn it into a runnin game, have your kids run toward and away from the camera. I think running photos are just darling. After about 15 minutes of this game (and oodles of darling photos) they’ll be ready for that chair.

Here are some examples…

RUN RUN RUN!!

Same concept but dancing instead of running.

Capturing Mom and Dad in the foreground and
background tells more of a story.

A whole family walking. This shot also looks so cute
walking towards the camera. I typically shoot something like
this about half way through the session, the kids love it
and allows them a little break from following posing directions
which buys me some additional time.

This is a fun variation, I had these little kids running toward the
camera and this was the last shot I got. Just look at their
faces, they are having a great time.

Here’s another variation. The concept is the same to
allow kids to run, move and play. All you’ll need to do
is set it up so you can capture a great shot.

Love Love Love this variation.

Line them up and march them. It took us a few times to
get just the right spacing but these kids loved it.

Like this little sweetie, sometimes no matter what
tricks you try they just want to move. I spent most
of the session following her snapping when
she turned my way. I had a packet of smarties in my
hand which dramatically increased the amount she turned
toward me. This image really captures her little free spirit.

Children photography is more than just having a nice camera or perfect lighting it’s also about knowing how to create an environment where you can capture the spirit of your little ones. The more tricks you have up your sleeve the more ability you’ll have to create an environment where children are authentically having fun and capturing that in your images.
Happy Snapping!!

To See Emilie Blog Click Here
To learn more about Emilie’s Workshops Click Here

Thanks Emilie! What great tips! Anything to help us capture those sweet little faces right! Thanks for joining the Blue Cricket Family! We look forward to seeing you each month and learning how we too can improve our photo skills!

Find out how you can become a guest poster HERE!