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After a wonderful day at the park with your children, you stop
at the local one hour photo processor to drop off your film. You
choose to do one hour because you are so excited to see how your
photos will turn out.
An hour later you return with excitement only to find that your
children are so small in the image you can hardly make out their
faces.
Here are some great tips for improving your family photos.
1. Get down to the childs level
When you take a picture of your small child playing, kneel down
to his/her eye level. Photos taken from above makes the viewer
of the image look down on the child. This makes the child seem
small, weak and insignificant.
2. Keep clothing simple
If you are planning on bringing your camera with you on your
family outing, dress your kids in simple clothes. Bold patterns
and colors on a child will make the clothes be the center of
attention, not the child. (However, if the flower covered dress
is from grandma, this rule can and should be broken) Make sure
the child is comfortable in his/her clothing. This will create a
more relaxed photo. If the child is dressed in tight,
non-fitting clothing, the child will be constantly pulling and
re-adjusting his/her clothes. This will result in a stiff and
unnatural picture.
3. Get in close
Get in close to the child without them being aware by using your
zoom or telephoto lens. I love candid close-ups of children.
Capture the wonder on their faces as they explore the world
around them.
4. Objects growing out of a child's head
Keep an eye on the background as well as the child before you
snap the shutter. Objects behind or in front of the child such
as trees, branches, light poles and fences, may look like they
are growing out the child or cutting them in half. Reposition
the camera and re-shoot.
5. Keep it fun!
The best images of children are the candid shots. Give them an
activity to do and hang low. A leaf, sand pile, bug, or flower
can be a great distraction for an inquisitive child. Let them
play with and investigate the object. Wonderful natural
expressions will result.
Learn these 5 simple rules and you will create wonderful images
of you're children. To see some examples visit
http://www.ajurden.com/child1.htm
About the author:
Alanna Jurden is an award winning Northwest landscape and nature
photographer. Visit her online at http://www.ajurden.com.
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