Taking great photos of children – from newborns to teenagers –is easy to do if you remember a few tips. First, keep the subject’s age uppermost in your mind. In a sense, babies are easy to photograph. They’re too young to be aware of what a photograph is, so they can’t react to the idea of being photographed. It’s a good idea to avoid using the flash when taking pictures of newborns, since it’s not known how much the bright light might disturb them. Work by available light. Indoors, during the day, have a parent hold the infant near a window without placing the child in direct sunlight. Take photos up close of just the cradled infant, and also take some pictures from a greater distance showing the child and the proud parent.
Whatever you do, don’t leave an infant unattended, even for a second. Don’t prop them up, either, while trying to take a photograph. The safety of the young child must always be utmost.
Holding a camera in front your face can frighten a small child. Put the camera down every 30 seconds or so, and talk to the child to reassure them. to offer reassurance.
When children get a little older and have seen photographs of themselves and others, they start to be a little more self-conscious. This is the age when getting good photographs becomes tougher and will last through the teenage years. Try to take candid photos of kids when they’re immersed in some activity, so they’re unaware of your presence. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze action, and don’t ask them to pose.
The single most common mistake family photographers make is taking the photo from too high an angle. Get down low for the most effective camera angle. From a low angle, the child looks more imposing in the scene, and that’s always a good thing. For a toddler’s first steps, the lower the camera is, the more exciting the photograph will be. As with all photographs, try to get in close to the subject, avoid distracting backgrounds, and watch out for clutter anywhere in the photograph.