Thrive On Success with the James Family: November 2009

If you can master the simple techniques I am going to teach you then you may never need to pay for an expensive photo shoot with a professional photographer again.

I am a retired Professional Child Portrait Photographer and some of the best images I have ever taken were the simplest to set up.

My children are always lining up to be in front of the camera, this is because we make it fun. We take ordinary everyday events and turn them into memories by playing together and just being ready to capture those special moments. I am always looking at the children in a visual way taking in their smiles, light in their eyes and joy on their faces, thinking about how I could frame their faces right then and there. Start looking at your kids like this. It will help you when you have your camera in your hand and you’re trying to get that special shot.

Keep your camera handy don’t store it in your closet, have it in the kitchen or near the computer for instance and always take it with you when you go on outings, so you can grab it as soon as something wonderful happens. There is no point in it being at home and you saying “Oh I wish I had my camera!”

The key to taking great photos of your children is to be relaxed and let them play. Step back and watch them for a while. Look at their expressions, the way they laugh and take note of quirky little habits they have. These are the things that make them who they are and this is what you want to capture so you can hang on to those memories forever.

One thing I do suggest is that you invest in a good SLR Digital camera with a quality zoom lens. After a few successful shoots with what you saved in professional photography fees you will have paid for your camera.

You don’t need a studio and lighting to take great images all you need is some natural light and a nice background. I suggest you go outside, go to you favourite park, your local beach or even the backyard. Choose some bright clothing that coordinates with all your children, try not to put all your children in the same outfit, or you will find they become lost in the colour and patterns.

When it comes to lighting make sure you don’t have full sun on your subjects face. Kids especially hate the sun in their eyes and will not smile for you how hard you try. The best light is even brightness with out harsh shadows. Try to find a fully shaded area like a veranda or under a tree at the park or if your on the beach go in the late afternoon so you can find shade and the sky will be more vibrant in colour. Use a light board or something white to reflect sunlight on to your child’s face. A white, silver or gold sheet of cardboard works perfectly and only cost a few dollars.

Let your children interact with each other for example let them play on the sand, walk down the beach together, swing on the swing, cuddle I am sure you get the picture. Don’t get to close, stand back and use your zoom lens to get up close. What this does is allow your child to be the focus in the image by blurring out your background. Don’t worry too much about your composition you can always crop your image on the computer later. But try to keep the child’s eyes in the top half of the frame and always leave more room in front of the face than behind the head. Don’t be afraid to take lots of photos using a digital camera means you can delete the bad ones and the more you take the better you will get at noticing what works and what doesn’t.

The most important thing is to make the experience fun, that way whenever you trot out your camera and say “ let me take a picture of you” they will be excited and line up for the fun.

If you are having troubles getting your little one to cooperate try showing them the photo you have taken and even get them to help you take some photos of the other children or even Dad. That way he/she will be excited to see what they created and just might like to have one of themselves.

Remember be patient and let them do their own thing, just be ready to grab the shot when they do something adorable.

I wish you all the success in your quest for the perfect image. And keep your eyes out for more helpful tips from me.

See the slide show opposite for examples of simple but effective images.