Basics of Photography – Taking Photos of Babies and Children

Photographing babies and children is a popular niche field for photographers. If you’re trying to build up a portfolio and start a business, learn all you can about the basics of photography as it relates to working with babies and children. Unlike shooting adults and landscapes, if you want to take a good photo, you must combine patience and speed when taking pictures of kids.

You won’t always get the cooperation you need or the quiet work environment you like when working with subjects that don’t like to sit still or don’t take directions well. You may also be working with parents who are pushy or critical of your pictures, meaning you must be able to manage both parties when taking pictures. Once you learn the basics of photography needed to work with children and babies, this type of photography can be the most fun and rewarding.

Plan Ahead

Children are quick, and babies have a low threshold for being primped and moved around for long periods of time. Before the photo shoot, make sure you know exactly what type of pictures the parents want. Will it be only the child, or will the parents want a few shots too?

Are you using studio lighting? If not, make sure you schedule the shoot during the day so you can take advantage of natural light in the home.

What will the wardrobe be like and do the parents want you to provide props? Going to the photo shoot with all of the details planned out makes it easier on you and the children.

Prepare to be Flexible

While it’s ideal to schedule the amount of time you’ll spend on a photo shoot, you never know how long it will take to get the pictures you want. With babies and children, a photo shoot can go long if the child is fussy or nervous. The basics of photography shoots include being able to stop and go as needed, allowing the parents to work with the children during the shoot, and being able to take pictures even when the poses you planned aren’t working out.

Take Lots of Pictures

The number one rule of baby photography is never stop snapping pictures. Don’t wait until the children are perfectly posed before you start shooting vollständiger artikel. Allow the kids to interact with each other or their environment and just start shooting.

You will get some of the most beloved photos from shots that are unplanned, and you can really capture a child’s personality this way. When a child is comfortable is also the best time to zoom in and get some close-up shots of the face or their hands.

While learning the basics of photography will help you when working with kids, it’s really how well you interact with the children that determine whether or not you’ll have a successful shoot. Don’t be afraid to get creative and use your imagination.