Tips for taking photos of kids

By BRIGITTE ROZARIO

Children aren't the easiest subject to photograph. Often they're running in all directions as you try to photograph them. If they're not running away, they won't smile for the camera.

What is the best way to photograph them then?

Child portraiture photographer Selina Zainal Abidin says the best thing to do with children is take them outdoors, dress them in colouful, clashing and vibrant coloured clothes and just shoot.

Selina has been doing children portraiture with Pitter Patter Images (pitterpatterphotos.blogspot.com) for the past two years. Her subjects are mostly aged between eight months and five years.
 

She offers some tips for parents wanting to take photographs of their children.

“Normally if you're just taking photos of your children at home, then it doesn't matter if it's indoors or outdoors. But, if you're doing a photo shoot then outdoors is the best.

“Normally I would choose a park and survey it first before a photo shoot because I want a place where they will be able to get some shade or buy drinks if it gets very hot. I would also recommend choosing a park that's not too dark and doesn't have too many people because you don't want to see other people in your shots.

“I have done shots at Lake Gardens. I don't normally do photo shoots in playgrounds because once the children see playground equipment they won't want to listen to me. They will just play.

“Parents often ask me what type of camera to get. Sometimes they say they want to get a digital SLR camera and I tell them there's no need for that. They can just use a compact camera that they can keep in their bag and whip out whenever they want to snap photos of their children. Don't waste money getting a DSLR because if you get a DSLR you'll get the basic lens with it. Then you'll want to buy the more expensive lens etc. So you will keep spending more money.

“Just get whatever compact camera you can afford. Whatever camera that was made in the past two or three years is good. Go outside where the lighting is great so you don't need any fancy equipment and just shoot,” says Selina.

She advises parents to get down to eye level with the child. The child needn't be looking at you or smiling at the camera. Even if they're looking elsewhere you can just shoot photos of them.

“You don't need props; just capture them as they have fun because children are all over the place. Shooting children is like F1 racing. They're not going to sit for you and smile but the advantage of shooting younger children is that they can't run.

“If you are getting a photographer then he or she needs to meet your children and the children need to be comfortable with him or her.

“But if you're taking the photos yourself then obviously your children are already very comfortable with you so just shoot.

“If they're outdoors, just shoot; don't think.

“If you waste time asking them to look at you, most of the time either they look surprised or irritated. So don't wait; just shoot. And most important of all is for parents to remember the rule of thirds which is something taught in any photography lesson – put the subject off the centre of the frame. For example, if you're at home and your child is playing with toys, then just take a photo of your child off the centre with some space and it will look interesting.”

To make shots a bit more interesting, Selina suggests slanting the camera or taking a shot from below or above the subject.

“It's best to take them when they're their happiest like after they've eaten or while they're eating and messing up their food. Don't take them when they're tired and cranky.

“Parents think that every single thing they do is cute anyway, whether they're messing up their food or eating their biscuits. So just shoot whatever you think is cute but apply these rules so that the shot will be interesting.”

Selina says don't bother trying to get the “perfect” shot because when you focus on doing that the shots normally turn out worse. So, don't think about it.

She also advises parents to use a flash as it will freeze whatever moving moment you're photographing and it will look great, especially if you're uploading the photos online to Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or a blog.

“Keep taking photos and keep practising and eventually you'll get very nice shots if you use some of these tips.

“I've seen parents who blog and put up photos of their children. Eventually you see the photos do get nicer and better.”

How should you dress your children?

In colourful clothes and make sure there are no logos on the clothes as it will be very distracting and won't look like professional shots.

“I suggest dressing the children in something light like cotton in pink or blue, something that will make them stand out. I wouldn't go for green because if you're outdoors they would be the same colour as the trees and the grass.”