 aileen cockburn |
Taking Photos of Kids Hi! My friend has asked me to take photos of her 3 grandchildren ages 8, 18 month and 4 month - the older two are boys. Can someone tell me the best poses for them, how I can keep their attention, what props if any to use, outfits for them, etc.? Thank you in advance.
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Joan Bellinger |
Consider silly hats, stuffed toys and ask Grandma to bring a favorite toy for each child. Try to get a time scheduled after meals and naps when the children will be in a better mood. Have moist wipes on hand, along with something small - maybe cookies or wafers - to reward the children after a good photo shoot. The white tops, blue bottoms are a great idea. Consider a barefoot photo, a black and white photo, maybe even sepia-toned. Line the children up by size for some photos with oldest on the left or maybe with all three facing the camera with the 8-year-old in back with legs stretched out, the 18-month-old in the middle and baby propped up on the 18-month-old's chest. You will want to get down on the floor to get closer to their level. Be prepared to spend a little more time than you think you will need. And don't forget to have fun! Editor's Note: Also check out the excellent online course right here at BP: Photographing Children by photographer, author and studio owner Vik Orenstein.
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William Schuette |
Aileen, if your camera supports it use burst exposures. Often you will catch an unexpected expression that you would otherwise missed. Bill
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aileen cockburn |
Hi William Ihave never heard of burst expposures. My camera is a canon digital eos 300d, maybe someone will be able to tell me if it does and how I use it. Aileen
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Doug Elliott |
J and Bill both have great ideas. Lay them down in the grass if you have grass. Here in Central Texas, we are now doing Bluebonnet portraits. Look at some of the images you see on pro sites who do children. Wagons and pillows are a great help. Matching outfits. You want the viewer to look at the faces, not what they are wearing. One of the things I use is a coiled roll of paper on a stick and I can throw it towards the kids and it comes back to me. You might find it a party shop. Have an assistant who will be standing right behind you and, at your level, to handle the props. Shoot on their level, and take your time. Use an off-camera flash or a large (36 x 48) foamcore from Hobby Lobby. Look at some baby magazines for ideas on posing. If you have time, go to your library and check out books on baby photography. Gooooooooooooood luck and keep smiling and keep shooting.
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aileen cockburn |
thank you doug unfortunatly I dont think I will have grass, I am doing it at the kids mums house, I am taking my back ground and lighting, and umberellas I do have a flash that sits on top of my camera but I dont have an off camera flash(yet). I will go to my library and have a look at books. the kids gran and mum will be there so I will get them to stand behind me and get the kids to look the only prob I can see is that the kids would want to go to mum but with any luck this wont happen, what would you recommend should mum be there or not, I was hopeing that mum would go in some shots with the kids. Aileen
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Suzanne Colson |
Burst mode is a means of the camera taking several pictures in a row by holding the shutter down. The Canon 300D I believe can take at a rate of 3 frames per second.
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aileen cockburn |
thank you I know now what it is I use it to take photos of my kids when they are doing sport is it the mode that looks like someone running Aileen
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Suzanne Colson |
I know on my 30D the sports mode (someone running) will do burst mode, but you can also set in the manual modes as well.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Aileen, I tell most people who are starting out to spend time looking at galleries and other photography companies that specialize in children's portraits. This will give you great ideas. Also, read through the Studio Photography thread for some help with eye direction, etc., and again check out the work that the photographers there have done. I do hope this helps, Debby Tabb
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Debby A. Tabb |
Oh also, I know we had a great discussion on attention getters. This will really help. I'll try to find the thread
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Debby A. Tabb |
I'm sorry Aileen, I'm not up to finding it, I did try. I believe it is around 5-7. but it's also on the childerns CD and Pet one as well. you'll have those soon. When is the Shoot? because if you haven't gotten them, I will find a way to get you the info. thanks,
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aileen cockburn |
thanks debby the shoot is on the 12 april so I have a couple of weeks to get reading and studing as I want to do really good photos,then the mum may show the photos to other mums who may want photos of their little cherbs. I am not planning on charging for taking the photos I am just charging them for ink and paper. do you think this would be ok, I would however tell them that it is just for them I am doing this and I would charge anyone else for taking the photos as well as charging for printing, but how much should I charge for my time incase someone else does want me to go to take photos. Aileen
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Debby A. Tabb |
Aileen, Thats great that you have time! and I alway think if you have a very social or involved mom, it's a great way to start your "word of mouth Advertizing" with her. So do something nice to make her feel special ,only helps your cause and exposure. I gave my hairdresser a beach shoot recently as a trade, charged $100.00 towards services as friends. 48 hours later shes telling me she needs more of my cards people are asking. the prints are at her station, and clients are in a chair looking and thinking " how long has it been since we had portraits taken?" This is Networking and This Works. Now, what you charge is strickly up to you , but I ALWAYs suggest you call around the redius you want to travel and get some ideas of what a photographer is worth. Then price middle of the line- not to low. It is much easier to give a deal, and look good. then to raise your prices on your clients later. I do hope all this helps, Debby
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Aileen, On the 300D, you can set the drive mode when you are shooting in Av, Tv, manual, etc. by pressing the drive mode button located just to the right of the power switch. This button toggles between single-shot (indicated by a single rectangle), continuous mode (indicated by a stack of rectangles), and self-timer mode (indicated by a clock). Selecting continuous mode will allow you to take multiple shots when you hold down the shutter button. This mode is selected by the camera when you shoot in the Sports mode, but I wouldn't recommend using that mode for portraits, since it will also set your ISO to 400. Another tip: you mentioned having the kids' mum in the room to help get them to smile. I've found this works best if she stands behind you, as close to the camera as possible. This way, when she gets the kids' attention, they will be looking at the camera, instead of off to the side. Try to minimize any other distractions when working with kids. If other adults are in the room trying to "help", and they are not near the camera, you will have a hard time getting shots with all of the kids looking at you. Good luck,
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BetterPhoto Member |
Let me just say that the best way I've found to capture children is to always be ready. A Leica R3 and the Sunpack 622 flash are doing you no good if you're talking to uncle Jim while the children are trying on aunt Freda's Sunday best. Be very as you follow them and you can capture some awesome images.
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aileen cockburn |
Thank you all for the advice I am taking the photos tomorrow nite about 5.30 any last bits of advice and ideas for poses would be great I spoke to my friend today and she has told me that her mum( the kids great gran) has been given about a week to live(she has cancer) and the family wnat one of the photos for her to keep with her, so I am wanting to do a good jub for them and as I am only a beginner and have told them this I am starting to worry I dont do them justice. thank you in advance for you help Aileen
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