So you want to photograph your kids…I mean who doesn’t?! Let me give you a few tips:
1: Have Realistic Expectations
Know your kids’ abilities and limits. Don’t expect them to pose perfectly for you if they are toddlers or simply always on the move. You MIGHT get some fun posed shots when they are older, but personality always comes into play. There is also the dreaded “photographer’s child syndrome” where it’s almost impossible to get a good shot because your kid currently wants to throw your phone or camera at the wall and run away!
2: Take Photos. A Lot.
Just take photos. Often. Take multiple. You don’t have to get it perfectly in one shot. You don’t even have to get perfect photos. Sometimes it’s the goofy grin, the blurred hand, or even the out of focus shot, that might mean the world to you, or capture your family exactly how you see them.
3: Try Again Tomorrow. Or AFTER a Nap.
Trying to do something specific and your kid is not having it? Try again some other time. Some times you can make it work after a nap, or simply a different day.
4: Get in FRONT of the Camera.
Whether you are using a phone, a point and shoot, or a dSLR, get in front of the camera. You may not like photos of yourself, but your family probably loves them…and your kids will enjoy making memories WITH you. It’s also easier to get goofy grins when you are tickling a kiddo, or attacking them with kisses!
5: Put the Camera Down!
Some times you just need to put the camera down and enjoy the time together. You have to live life with your family, not just watching them from behind the camera. Some days I struggle with this one, and some days I struggle with wanting to NOT be behind the camera.
6: PRINT THEM!
So this doesn’t really help you take photos of your kids, but it’s motivation to really capture loved photos and moments instead of just hoarding a million photos on a computer somewhere. Print those photos to view. This could be for your wall, or wherever, but what I personally prefer is a family yearbook. I love laying out our family photos, events, happenings, holidays, etc. in a photos book to have printed and flip through when I’d like. It’s the perfect way to view my images easily and in a meaningful way. It also is a way to back up my images in a way. I have a digital version of my images, a printed version, and an online version where I made the book. I can also have them reprinted, or printed for family.
There are a millions tips and tricks for how to photograph your kids, but those are just a few of the ones that I personally love. I LOVE looking over photos from my childhood and I use that as my motivation to keep capturing my family AND myself through the years to share memories.
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