How interesting it is to photograph children at home - my realized photo ideas. How to photograph infants? Tips for photographing newborns Outdoor photo sessions for children

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How should you photograph children? This question is asked by many parents, which is why we dedicate this lesson in which we will help you with the choice of equipment and shooting parameters, give advice on layout and working with light, and also reveal the basics of communication with children necessary for their photography.

Traditionally for our photography school, all tips are divided into 2 parts - camera settings and actual shooting practice. And don’t let the lesson number confuse you - you will succeed! :)

Let's start with some tips for setting up your camera for photographing children.

Aperture priority mode. Shooting in this mode and high-aperture optics will allow you to control the depth of field (DOF), which is important for portrait photography, so that the background in the photos is blurred, focusing attention on the subject. The optimal value will be f/2.2-2.8 (according to shooting conditions) for a portrait close-up, and f/2.8-4 for shooting full-length portrait. These values are conditional, used personally by the author of the lesson, and you can practically determine the settings of your camera that you consider more correct.

If your camera doesn't have aperture priority mode (i.e. your camera doesn't have manual settings), you can use portrait mode. When using this mode, the camera's automation will open the maximum aperture for the focal length you choose, reducing the depth of field.

ISO- Depending on where the photo is being taken (indoors or outdoors) and the light, set the ISO value to the lowest possible value to prevent noise. ISO at 100-200 - if the lighting is good enough. If the lighting is insufficient and the shutter speed at low ISO is long, you can compensate for this by increasing the photosensitivity, but I recommend no more than 800.

Excerpt- try to use 1/200 for static prophecy when your child is posing, and if children are not sitting still, go up to 1/500 or higher. As mentioned above, if there is not enough light and the shutter speed in aperture priority mode is set longer than 1/125, increase the ISO or open the aperture slightly. If your camera does not have manual settings, use the sports settings mode.

Focus mode- set the focus mode to one point - with children who are constantly moving, this will be the optimal mode. In simple point-and-shoot cameras, unfortunately, you cannot select the camera focus mode (maybe you should think about changing the camera?).

Image format when shooting- if you have the time and skills to process photos, then try to take pictures in RAW format. This will give you more options for post-processing. And again, I note that digital compacts do not allow you to choose the format for saving images.

Flash/Lighting- if there is a hot shoe connector in the camera, it is better to immediately refuse to use the built-in flash. If the photo is taken indoors, use an external flash to bounce the light pulse off the wall or ceiling (if they are white) or use a diffuser to get indirect light. If external flash no, or the camera does not allow you to install it - try to photograph in natural light and do not worry about the flash (except for moments when you are shooting against the sun and you will need flash fill light).

Lenses. If your camera has interchangeable lenses, then the choice is determined by the condition described at the beginning of the lesson - large aperture. When photographing children dynamically, it is necessary to use a zoom lens; when photographing statically - the best option There will, of course, be a lens with a fixed focal length. A TV zoom lens allows you to capture casual scenes from a distance, while a wide-angle lens allows you to take panoramic shots.

Now that the settings are complete, it’s time to move on directly to shooting practice.

Practice photographing children

Before giving specific advice on photographing children, it should be mentioned that the child should feel as comfortable and at ease as possible during the photographing process. You can show your child the photographs you took, let your child look at the camera, or let him take a few pictures himself.

The place where you will take photos, if it is situational, but try to think through 2-3 scenes in advance that you would like to capture. Shoot outdoors (for example, in a park or forest), and indoors (for example, a bedroom or a room where a child plays). Find a place with a simple, low-key backdrop for posing (and make sure there's no carpet behind you!). Choose places where children will find it fun and interesting, then you can photograph them in a relaxed atmosphere while playing.

Hidden photography- try to photograph children as secretly as possible. They can do their favorite things during this time. Use a TV lens.

Avoid staged shooting where a child, for example, sits among toys with a sour face and looks at them indifferently. The picture is called “Happy Birthday,” but another name suits it best: “This photographer got all your gifts.” Unfortunately, social media they are simply teeming with just such photographs.

Posing- older children love to pose, but small children are not very attentive to this and photographs in which they pose may look a little unnatural and forced.

The best period for photographing babies is from 6 to 9 months. Then we have the most angelic faces, wide-open eyes and the most controlled mood. During this period, babies look at what is shown to them, lie where they are placed, and touch what is given. All in all, ideal models. In a year or two, character begins to emerge. It depends on your luck. Maybe all the games that you have prepared for him will be completely uninteresting to him. At three or four, it is difficult to get children to stand in one place. Don’t even hope that you will put a small child in front of the lens and he will smile radiantly at you, turn in different directions and react to everything you say. Will not be. 100%. The film set turns into a playground for active games, and you always want to play in places other than where they are taking pictures. But closer to 5 years, a child can already pose well.

Take photos at the level of the child's face- ordinary Small child no higher than half your height, and if you photograph him from your height, the pictures will turn out ordinary and inexpressive, and the proportions of the child’s body will be disrupted. Therefore, sit down at the child’s eye level.

Using the zoom. Can be increased focal length zooming, but do not forget that in this case lenses with a variable aperture value reduce the aperture, and, accordingly, the shutter speed increases and the depth of field increases. It is better not to use the zoom, leaving the lens in a wide-angle position and taking pictures in the surrounding context, not forgetting that the children’s faces should also dominate the pictures, and not just the surroundings.

Focus on the eyes. Pay maximum attention to the child's eyes. Clear eyes in a photo will always draw the viewer's attention to it.

Background. Pay attention to the background of your photos. The background gives context to photos, but it can also distract attention from the main subject. Before shooting, remove all unnecessary objects from the frame. Experiment with backgrounds of different colors and textures, or, on the contrary, take a photo so that the background is not visible at all.

Cloth- choose clothes that the child will feel comfortable in and that will reflect his personality. It's also good to have several different costumes if the shoot will take place in different locations. Avoid bright, flashy colors and accessories in the frame - they distract attention from the child’s eyes and create a certain spot of color - the visual center of the photo.

To obtain original photos use continuous shooting mode.

Include other people in the frame as another way to help your child relax - add parents, brothers, sisters, friends, etc. This will add a sense of relationship to the frame and will distract the child from the photographer. Filming two children is more interesting than one, but also more difficult. Here the emotions of one child must coincide with the emotions of another, otherwise there will be complete confusion. Here, too, it’s easier to give them some kind of task and film what they do. Only then will the photograph not look artificial.

Make the photo shoot as fun as possible. Try to make your child happy by asking him to do some fun things, this will make the pictures more energetic and help the child relax. The more fun the child is, the more sincere and original his photographs will be.

Light scheme, which you will use indoors, should not be complex and difficult to customize. You tell the children to stand here, and they move half a meter to the side. And it is on the sidelines that the best personnel will be found. If your light is set to a specific point and a specific angle, you won't achieve much. It is easy to photograph children against a white background, where a step to the right or a step to the left does not play a big role, although, of course, you still need to monitor the light and, if possible, adjust it.

We will highlight photography in kindergartens and schools separately.

The production process of school photography requires careful organization. The fact is that photographing one class can usually take time comparable to one lesson. There are from twenty-five to forty-five students in a class. The lesson lasts forty-five minutes. Therefore, the photographer has only one minute for each portrait.

A portable studio in a miniature version consists of a studio flash with a power of 150 J (at a distance of 130 cm from the umbrella to the child’s eyes, it gives an aperture of 8), an umbrella with a diameter of 100 cm (moving the umbrella more than thirty meters from the eyes is bad. At the same time, it ceases to produce a soft cut-off pattern, but large-diameter umbrellas cannot be used: they take up too much space), a reflector to the right of the photographer (about twenty cm from the child’s shoulder) and a source of drawing light (ideally it should be positioned so that during the shooting process it is not needed too much) move frequently, approximately 20 cm above the child’s head, at an angle of 45 degrees to the lens axis).

Opening a hole even larger than 8 is bad, because there is no reserve of depth of field, and in case of the slightest mistake you can get a defect. Considering the pace of filming, it's best not to take risks.

During recess, children run wild and run around like meteors, constantly knocking over the fence of chairs built around the studio. It costs them nothing to knock any of the flashes onto the floor. Therefore, during breaks, filming stops, the photographer retrains as a security guard.

The lens should allow you to shoot a half-length portrait from an arm's length distance. This is important because every now and then children have to straighten their shirt collars, ties, and bangs. Portraits are characterized by a soft pattern, shallow depth of field and usually large aperture ratio.

When photographing a class, turn off autofocus and frame the frame so that the subject's head occupies three-quarters of the frame, there is not too much body, and there is a small amount of space above the head. blurred background. Now focus on the child's eyes and seal the focusing ring with tape. The main thing is that the image scale of the heads does not change during the work. When they all come together in one cool vignette, the different-sized heads will look ugly. You will have to focus by changing the position of your own head: either approaching the client’s eyes, or moving away from them. Not very convenient, but the output standard of the product is guaranteed. Another one important detail. At the moment of shooting, the camera mirror rises, and for a short moment you lose sight of the person. And at this very moment he strives to blink. There is only one way to avoid this during the shooting process: you need to look at the lens with one eye and directly at the child with the other and, if necessary, take a double. Avoiding mistakes by looking at the camera display every now and then is not an option - the pace of work will be disrupted.

On the eve of the shoot, children usually receive a lot of “useful” advice from their parents. A trained child, sitting on a chair in front of the photographer, inflates like a bubble, begins to straighten his hair, his collar, chew his own lips, or gives such a crooked smile that he is just about ready to burst out laughing. A lot in this case depends on the behavior of the photographer. You can’t let the child come to his senses. As soon as you sit him down and straighten his hair and clothes, immediately ask him some stupid question that has nothing to do with the shooting, but requires a switch of attention. For example: “How many kwa will there be every time?”, “What is the name of your cat?”, “Turn your nose a little to the left,” etc. You should have quite a lot of such blanks in stock so that the question is unexpected for each subsequent child.

Children usually stand in line outside the studio and watch everything that happens like a small performance in which the photographer is both a director and an actor at the same time. And whether children are interested in the performance depends on their behavior during filming. The moment a child hears a question, he willy-nilly switches his attention from the desire to be beautiful and control his facial muscles to thinking about an unexpected question. At this time his face takes on a natural expression. This is the moment of truth, catch it, pull the trigger. After a moment, the child will think about the question and respond: he will begin to talk, smile and again begin to play “handsome”.

You shouldn’t film children talking or squeeze smiles out of them if they themselves don’t smile at you with a full measure of trust. Uneven teeth or any glands in the mouth are very unsightly. It’s better for these guys not to open their mouths at all.

Children should not be allowed to stand directly behind you. They begin to make faces, show their horns, in a word, entertain the one who is already filming. This disrupts the rhythm of filming and prevents the creation of an optimal mood for the entire class. Confidence, goodwill, calmness, gentle tolerance for children's pranks and at the same time firmness in organizational requirements are absolutely necessary. If you can persuade the teacher to tidy up your tomboys, and you don’t waste time combing unruly tufts and putting collars and ties in order, you’ll be able to take down the whole class in forty-five minutes and still not create a marriage.

Higher grades are more difficult to film. The girls are all fashion models. They may sit on a chair with their back to the light because that side of their face seems better to them. Persuading someone to change seats is useless. It is necessary to prepare in advance for rearranging the light and mark on the floor where the umbrella stand will be installed. Large guys will have to be filmed while standing. Conversations with them and distractions should be more sophisticated and humorous. Commands in an orderly tone do not work. In a confrontational environment, filming goes poorly. Many guys have teenage acne. Therefore, stock up on good covering powder and concealer pencils. Accompanied by friendly laughter, the children will have to quickly paint their cheeks and foreheads, without listening to objections. The result is quite decent portraits without pimples and freckles. An alternative is computer retouching.

That's all for today. I hope the materials in this lesson were interesting and useful for you. Good luck and all your photography!

The birth of children is a real miracle. Trembling excitement, anticipation of the birth of a baby, the first cry, a smile. These are unforgettable moments in the life of a new little person, which many parents want not only to preserve in memory, but also in a photograph. And it’s best to entrust the first photo session in your baby’s life to a professional.

Preparing for shooting

So, you have received an order for a newborn photo shoot. What should you think about first? Of course, come to the shoot fully armed: don’t forget your camera and all the things necessary for photography.

Preparing for a baby photo shoot is very close in responsibility to preparing for wedding photography.

It is important to take into account numerous nuances and not forget anything. Sometimes even an experienced and popular photographer can be perplexed by photographing a newborn if he has had little contact with children before. The little man does not yet know how to pose, express different emotions that the photographer would like to see in the photo. This is the beauty and purity of babies, but this is also the problem for the photographer. At any moment, the child may cry, refusing to take at least one shot. So you need to be patient and smart in order to make a truly beautiful and moving photo session that will delight the baby’s parents and relatives for many years.

List of things needed for shooting

Main and spare cameras;
New memory cards;
Lenses;
Rattles and other toys (needed to attract the baby’s attention);
Background stand and clips;
It is advisable to take a heater with you to prevent your baby from freezing if you are filming in a studio rather than in the house;
A comfortable chair (preferably one with height control);
A place where you can put the baby (this can be a beautiful pillow, a cocoon, a bean bag chair);

Additional clothes to change into in case of a child's surprise;
Necessary decor (depending on the shooting concept);
Photo background;
Various accessories: diapers, ribbons, bows, etc.

Make sure to eat well before your photo shoot because it can take an unpredictably long time.

You can take with you a small mattress or blanket that you can place under your knees while shooting so that you are comfortable and your legs don’t get numb. Carefully select clothes for this event: they should be light and comfortable, not restricting movement. Remember that you will have to work with a very small child, so it is very difficult to guess how long it will take to shoot. Perhaps the baby will sleep all the time and you will be able to take all the successful shots in a short time. But it may also be that you spend several hours searching for successful shots. Therefore, be prepared for anything and carefully prepare for the photo shoot.

Your positive attitude. For parents, as a rule, the first photo session of their child is very exciting and causes a lot of worry and anxiety. And you should be smiling and calm. This will be felt not only by the parents, but also by the baby himself. Be more optimistic, everything will definitely work out!

Features of shooting children of different ages

When your bag for the photo shoot is packed and you are in the mood, it’s time to think about what the specifics of the upcoming photo shoot will be. After all, in different months of life, children express themselves differently, so it is important to know these nuances.

Newborn photography up to 4 weeks

As a rule, during this period of time the baby sleeps for the most part. You have a wonderful opportunity to choose the right angle for a long time, calmly use the scenery, and invent stories. You can ask the parents to stand in the frame with the baby and offer to take him in their arms. There are many options, use your imagination.

Baby photography at 4 weeks

At this age, the baby still needs to support his head, and you can take advantage of this by doing family portrait. Let one of the parents take the child in such a way that he lies in his arms, like on a pillow, with his tummy down. In this position, the baby will be calm and relaxed, and you will get great shots.

Photographing a baby at three months

You will have to be patient to really catch good shot, for example, a baby yawning.

Photographing a 4 month old baby

This is almost your last opportunity to photograph a baby sleeping in your arm. Next, the baby will be more mobile and less prone to static shots.

Baby photography at 5 months

During this period, the child is already making his first attempts to sit, which you can take advantage of. Involve parents in the photo who will support the baby in his desire to sit, and you will get a great shot.

Before 6 months, you need to have time to take a photo of the baby’s arms and legs, while they are still tiny.

Photographing a baby at 6 months

From this time on, the child sits independently and makes more contact with people, including the photographer. Much will depend on the ability to establish a connection with the baby, interest him, and he will like it. Your charm, friendliness, smiling, and sincerity will certainly be needed here. Become a child's friend, and you will definitely get unforgettable, touching shots.

Advice:
Be attentive to details, they will help you create unique and original shots.

Photographing one-year-old children

First birthday. So many opportunities for successful shots! Surely the parents were preparing for the holiday, decorating the room, dressing up, baking or ordering the main attribute of the holiday - a cake. In foreign countries, for example, a very common trend is cake slap, when kids eat a cake and smear themselves with this sweetness. The results are funny, very lively shots! Try to negotiate with your parents about such a shoot and you will be guaranteed fun, cheerful photos.

Photographing children 2 years old

At this age, a child willingly communicates with an adult if he himself finds an approach to him. You need to learn to play with the baby, behave directly, take pictures in between, but capture cute moments, funny ones, when, for example, the child makes faces or plays tag with you.

Knowing the specifics of children of each age period, you are more likely to be able to avoid unwanted consequences from a photo shoot when neither you nor your parents are satisfied with the shooting. Therefore, use our advice and expand your portfolio excellent shots and excite the admiration of your baby’s parents with stunning photographs of your child.

Take several shots from different angles. Some shots may turn out blurry or unsuccessful, but kids still don’t know how to pose. Therefore, your dexterity and dexterity are very important for this photo shoot plan. It’s better to take more photos so that you have plenty to choose from later.
Take photos of babies during the day. It is at this time of day that newborns are more inclined to take pictures. A huge plus is that daylight is better than electric light. You will also most likely have the opportunity to photograph your baby both while sleeping and after waking up. Thus, you will get a different photographic plan, which is undoubtedly better than monosyllabic ones.

One of the most important tips is to turn off the flash. The child may simply be afraid of it, and bright light has a negative effect on the retina.
Be sure to involve family members in the filming. Babies will feel much more comfortable next to mom, dad, brother, sister and other close relatives.
Choose beautiful, unusual props for your photo shoot, with which you can make even the most ordinary shot incredible.
Don't panic if your baby starts crying. Taking pictures of a crying baby is also possible, so don’t be afraid of the baby’s tears and screams.
Take detailed photographs. Let only the baby’s legs, arms, and head be in the frame. This enlargement makes the frame very cute and allows you to focus on the touching nature of the little creature.

Baby Photography Ideas

We will offer you some ideas on how you can photograph babies.

Idea 1. Arrange a photo session of the expectant mother getting ready for the maternity hospital. Try to convey in the photograph the atmosphere of the mother’s pleasant excitement before meeting her child. Very soon she won’t have the opportunity to take a photo of herself with her baby bump, so she needs to seize the moment.
Idea 2. The first days of a baby's life. Take pictures of the baby in the crib in the maternity hospital, next to the mother. The child is just beginning to explore this amazing, big world.
Idea 3. Try to photograph the moment when the child's father sees him for the first time. This is very touching! After all, even the most brutal and serious men break into a smile when they see their baby, some may even shed a tear. This wonderful transformation of a man-father will not leave anyone indifferent!

Idea 4. First family gathering. That moment when grandparents and other close relatives arrive. This is an important day of meeting a new family member for the first time.
Idea 5. Be sure to take a photo of the tag from the maternity hospital. It may be lost over time, but here is a photograph that contains such important information, will be safe and sound.
Idea 6. You can arrange a photo session for a newborn with other children in the maternity hospital. Be sure that the pictures will be touching and sweet.
Idea 7. A mother feeding her baby is also a touching and extraordinary shot. You can take a series of pictures, and then choose the angle that you like best.

Idea 8. Preparing for discharge from the hospital. Those moments when the mother dresses the baby in elegant clothes that were purchased specifically for this occasion.
Idea 9. Discharging from maternity hospital. The baby's first appearance in the world and the way home. Very soon the baby will get acquainted with his room, crib, and find out where he will live and grow up.
Idea 10. Photo session at home immediately after returning from the maternity hospital.
Idea 11. Measuring baby's height. To do this, you can use a toy that needs to be placed next to the baby in order to understand in contrast how small and defenseless the new little person is.
Idea 12. Baby and toys. You can arrange a separate photo session of the baby and his toys. It will be so nice for a grown child years later to remember the wonderful first moments of life surrounded by his toys.

Idea 13. Photos of baby's clothes. She is so tiny, she evokes delight and tenderness. Parents can hold the baby’s things, for example, to make it clear how small and delicate everything is. You will certainly get beautiful, cute shots that you can watch several times.
Idea 14. It's worth trying to photograph your baby's first bath. Many children love to swim; it delights them.
Idea 15. Facial expressions of a baby. Of course, you can’t be sure that in one photo session you will take pictures with different facial expressions of the baby. You can do this type of shooting in several passes.

Your efforts will not be in vain, because a captured child’s smile and frowning eyebrows are worth a lot.

We hope that you will be inspired by our tips and ideas and will be able to capture more than one successful shot. May the photo session you take bring joy not only to you, but also to the baby’s loved ones, for whom every photograph of their beloved child is very important and valuable.

Why, when we show plump photo albums with images of our child to friends or relatives, their interest is lost already on the third page? Is there something wrong with the child? Why don't they like him? But you and I know that our baby is the best, most beautiful, talented... in general, the best! Or maybe it's the photographs themselves? How to photograph children correctly?

Filming while playing

What could be more beautiful than a child passionate about play? But, here’s the thing, the pictures show either the back, the top of the head, or even the back of the fidget’s head, and you can’t even tell what he’s playing there. Common situation? Let's fix it.

Think about the fact that you are not only a photographer, but also a director. Therefore, offer your child your rules of the game. Not all games are created equal for shooting. If only because it is very difficult to focus on a running and jumping child, and calm drawing threatens that in the frame, in addition to pencils and paper, there will be only the young creator’s hair. What to do?

First, take a dad, grandma, or someone else as an assistant who will not only play with the child, but also make sure that he is well positioned in relation to the camera and is not dirty, sweaty, disheveled... The baby will definitely not care about his own appearance. Secondly, choose a game. A ball game is quite suitable. The baby stands still and catches the ball thrown by the adult. A variant of hide and seek codenamed “peek-a-boo” looks funny. The baby hides from the adult behind a tree (wall, closet), periodically peeking out with a playful “peek-a-boo.” By the way, your assistant should be located as close to you as possible. It's not that quiet games aren't ideal for shooting. They are suitable, but in order to take a photo, you will have to constantly tear your baby away from an exciting activity. He should look at you! But drawing or construction toys require attentiveness.

If you just want to be a paparazzi and take pictures of the baby in his everyday games, try to take pictures from his eye level and not distract the child too much.

We photograph houses

It must be admitted that most often you have to take photographs at home. Did you know that these are almost the most difficult conditions for photographing children? It doesn’t matter whether you have an expensive DSLR or a simple compact, you will still encounter the same problems, which, by the way, can be solved. As a rule, home photographs are taken with flash. But in vain, because the light from the built-in flash completely destroys the volume and texture of the skin, overexposes the forehead or nose, causes “red eyes”, and simply makes the picture mundane and uninteresting. Try to give up this “useful” feature in the camera and you will see how much more interesting your baby’s portraits will look.

Does the sun sometimes come into your room? Great! It's time to take pictures! Does your apartment have windows? Even in cloudy weather there is delightful light near the window. Just invite your child to play by the windowsill. You may ask, what to do in winter, when it gets dark at three o’clock in the afternoon, and the light in the room is constantly on? Bring more light bulbs! Tabletops, sconces, don’t forget to turn on the overhead light - everything will do, and the more powerful the better! Just remember to switch the white balance to incandescent mode and raise the sensitivity to ISO 800, just in case.

In the bright sun

Let's go outside... Sometimes it's worth turning your usual walk into an exciting photo session by taking your camera with you. A sunny day (or better yet, evening or morning - the light is best at this time) is perfect for shooting. The only thing you should not forget about is black shadows on the side opposite to the sun. We were taught from childhood that we should not shoot against the sun. It is quite possible that this rule arose from the natural economy of our ancestors: in 9 cases out of 10, a person photographed against the sun turned into a black silhouette... the frame was rejected, and the film was a pity... However, there was one more case when a surprisingly unusual photograph was produced. You can, for example, remember that your camera has a “harmful” flash. It will illuminate the face, and the delicate curls on your baby’s head will glow in the sun’s rays. By the way, it’s a rare case when it’s really needed!

You can come up with something more complicated. For example, take a piece of foil with you and, reflecting the sun's rays, highlight the shadows on the child's face. I don’t encourage you to shoot exclusively against the sun, let the baby spin as he wants and play for his own pleasure: your task is not to leave his face out of the frame and remember that the details in the shadows should be highlighted.

Portrait with parents

Has it become too quiet on Odnoklassniki? Post your new portrait with your baby! A flurry of high fives and comments is guaranteed. It would also be nice for this portrait to be successful.

If you are planning a self-portrait, the best assistant will be a mirror. Position yourself opposite him so that you can see how you are filming the child playing. The more natural the situation looks, the better. You can do without it by setting the camera on a 10-second timer and jumping up to the baby in time, but here you risk getting not only an unnatural plot, but also losing one of the models altogether. During this time, the child will have time to run all the way to the kitchen. I recommend taking photographs of yourself at arm's length only if you have a good sense of humor and are not embarrassed to show your friends two very distorted faces. The fact is that from such a close distance, both of you will fit into the frame only if the camera is at minimum zoom. In this zoom position, everything close to the camera becomes exaggeratedly large compared to what is further away. Want an example? Look into the samovar!

As for portraits with grandparents and other relatives, there is nothing worse than a staged photo with a child in your arms against the backdrop of the carpet. How to properly photograph babies with their family? Let grandma sit on the floor. Let the grandfather throw his granddaughter high, high (and don’t forget to catch!), let the dad make a stupid grimace at his daughter! Don’t be shy to take pictures of life, then, looking at these photos, you will get a lot of positive emotions.

Water games

Kids love to swim. And how great it is to play in the water! You must remember: the more emotions, the more interesting the pictures. Owners of compacts in this case will be luckier than those who have a DSLR, simply because a waterproof case for a compact costs mere trifles, but with SLR camera in this regard it is more difficult.

Why do we need a cover? Not only to protect the camera from splashes - and where would we be without them, this is the most beautiful thing (after your child, of course) - but also so that, when filming the splashing fidget, you can lower the camera into the water. The highest class is to capture the moment when half of the frame is in the water and the other half is on land. Although, you will have to do a lot of takes. If you're filming your child with someone else, just ask them to play while you walk around in circles and click. Exactly in circles. Don't stand still for a second. This way you can choose the most interesting angle. If there is no one to help you, you will have to take the blow yourself. Ask your child to spray you from head to toe. He will do this with great pleasure. And don't forget to spray him back. Without stopping filming, of course!

First ever photo shoot

Everything we have talked about so far applies to fairly adult babies from one year old and older. But what about the crumbs? How to photograph children under one year old? How to photograph infants?

Don't be afraid to photograph them from day one. As we said before, it is better to avoid flashing. Not even because a sharp sudden light can frighten a baby, but because the result will leave much to be desired. Therefore, try to use only natural light.

Babies up to two months sleep a lot, which we will take advantage of by remembering the masterpieces of Anne Geddes. It is important not to forget that each frame must be thought out. Few people will be interested in a child photographed through the bars of a bed, but if you lay him on a green blanket and put a hat with caterpillar horns on his head, that’s a completely different matter. Remember that everything depends on your imagination. Come up with interesting stories, sew or buy costumes and props, and take advantage of the fact that your love doesn’t yet know how to run away from you.

If the baby is not sleeping, he should be in good mood, namely, dry, well-fed, sleepy and healthy. If something doesn’t go as you would like, postpone shooting for a couple of hours, or even a day. The model's mood is the law.

What if it's dark?

We have already talked about what to do if you have to film in a poorly lit apartment. What if there is no way to increase the amount of light?

You'll have to turn to the camera itself for help. Do not zoom out or bring the camera too close to your child. It’s better to capture the excess in the frame, then you can always crop it. Set your camera to shutter priority mode, if available. In some it is designated by the letters Tv, in some – S. A child is a moving creature, so the shutter speed (that is, the time while the shutter is open) should be no longer than 1/30 of a second. And the more active the child, the shorter the shutter speed.

In addition, it will be better if you put the camera in continuous shooting mode and click in series. A couple of frames from the series will definitely be sharp.

As for the built-in flash, you can turn it on only if you want to take not a photo, but documentary evidence of your child’s pranks. In this case, we are not talking about the artistry of photography. And one more thing: the lighter the baby’s clothes, the better.

Poses for shooting

Who said that good photographer no templates? They exist, there are just a lot of them. One example of a template is shooting poses. Those that are best suited for the first year of life. So, from the very beginning. how to photograph small children?

Babies up to one and a half to two months: of course, lying down, but not from above, as we are used to photographing, but from eye level. Either in the arms of mom or dad. You can film the baby's face peeking over mom's shoulder from behind. From two to five months: at this age, the baby already holds his head well and even tries to get up on all fours, so put him on his tummy, and lie down in front of him and show him something interesting. A sitting pose is also good, but the child must have something in his hands, otherwise the fidget will not even allow you to focus. Six to nine months: The baby crawls vigorously on all fours and even stands on its feet. This is what we will be photographing, not forgetting to lie down on the floor. Ten months and older: the baby confidently stands or runs, and we still take a knee-elbow pose with the camera and try to catch up with the fleeing child.

As you have already noticed, we almost always bend down as low as possible, so that the shooting point is no higher than the child, but there is an exception. If a child is sitting still and doing something, you can call him so that he raises his head and looks at you, and take a photo from above. In this case, it is very important that there are no unnecessary objects around the baby. Only what corresponds to the idea of the frame.

Details are important too

With what surprise, in a year or two, you will look at your beloved’s old hats and sandals. How small he was! All this can be reflected in the photo if you pay attention to the details. For example, take a photo of a tiny foot in daddy's palms. Or tender fingers grasping your finger or something else whose size you know well. More attention to detail - later you will have something to remember. And in general, such photographs look very touching.

Shall we pose?

All children are different: some can tinker with a toy for hours, while others find it difficult to sit still for a minute. But this does not mean that the second case is hopeless for shooting. Quite the opposite! The livelier and more active the child, the richer his facial expressions, the more interesting the pictures will be. And under no circumstances force your baby to pose for you. At best, you will get lifeless pictures with a stony expression on your face, and at worst, your little model will have a persistent aversion to being photographed. Play, have fun, have fun, and who knows, maybe photography will become not only your hobby, but also your baby’s favorite pastime.

The author of the photographs in this article is children's photographer Lyalya Garbuz. Take advantage unique opportunity study with Lyalya on the course "

In this article, we will offer you ten tips for photographing your little one in a variety of situations. Maybe you will learn your previous mistakes and next time your photos will become more interesting. Filming while playing What could be more beautiful than a child passionate about playing? But, here’s the thing, the pictures show either the back, the top of the head, or even the back of the fidget’s head, and you can’t even tell what he’s playing there. Common situation? Let's fix it.

Photographer at home It must be admitted that most often you have to take photographs at home. Did you know that these are almost the most difficult conditions for photographing children? It doesn’t matter whether you have an expensive DSLR or a simple compact, you will still encounter the same problems, which, by the way, can be solved. As a rule, home photographs are taken with flash. But in vain, because the light from the built-in flash completely destroys the volume and texture of the skin, overexposes the forehead or nose, causes “red eyes”, and simply makes the picture mundane and uninteresting. Try to give up this “useful” feature in the camera and you will see how much more interesting your baby’s portraits will look.

In the bright sun

Sometimes it’s worth turning your usual walk into an exciting photo session by taking your camera with you. A sunny day (or better yet, evening or morning) is perfect for shooting. The only thing you should not forget about is black shadows on the side opposite to the sun. We were taught from childhood that we should not shoot against the sun. It is quite possible that this rule arose from the natural economy of our ancestors: in 9 cases out of 10, a person photographed against the sun turned into a black silhouette... the frame was rejected, and the film was a pity... However, there was one more case when a surprisingly unusual photograph was produced. You can, for example, remember that your camera has a “harmful” flash. It will illuminate the face, and the delicate curls on your baby’s head will glow in the sun’s rays. By the way, it’s a rare case when it’s really needed!

Portrait with parents

Has it become too quiet on Odnoklassniki? Post your new portrait with your baby! A flurry of high fives and comments is guaranteed. It would also be nice for this portrait to be successful. If you are planning a self-portrait, the best assistant will be a mirror. Position yourself opposite him so that you can see how you are filming the child playing. The more natural the situation looks, the better. You can do without it by setting the camera on a 10-second timer and jumping up to the baby in time, but here you risk getting not only an unnatural plot, but also losing one of the models altogether. During this time, the child will have time to run all the way to the kitchen. I recommend taking photographs of yourself at arm's length only if you have a good sense of humor and are not embarrassed to show your friends two very distorted faces. The fact is that from such a close distance, both of you will fit into the frame only if the camera is at minimum zoom. In this zoom position, everything close to the camera becomes exaggeratedly large compared to what is further away. Want an example? Look into the samovar!

As for portraits with grandparents and other relatives, there is nothing worse than a staged photo with a child in your arms against the backdrop of the carpet. Let grandma sit on the floor. Let the grandfather throw his granddaughter high, high (and don’t forget to catch!), let the dad make a stupid grimace at his daughter! Don’t be shy to take pictures of life, then, looking at these photos, you will get a lot of positive emotions.

Playing with water Kids love to swim. And how great it is to play in the water! You must remember: the more emotions, the more interesting the pictures. In this case, owners of compacts will be luckier than those who have a DSLR, simply because a waterproof case for a compact costs mere trifles, but with a DSLR camera in this regard it is more difficult. Why do we need a cover? Not only to protect the camera from splashes - and where would we be without them, this is the most beautiful thing (after your child, of course) - but also so that, when filming the splashing fidget, you can lower the camera into the water. The highest class is to capture the moment when half of the frame is in the water and the other half is on land. Although, you will have to do a lot of takes. If you're filming your child with someone else, just ask them to play while you walk around in circles and click. Exactly in circles. Don't stand still for a second. This way you can choose the most interesting angle. If there is no one to help you, you will have to take the blow yourself. Ask your child to spray you from head to toe. He will do this with great pleasure. And don't forget to spray him back. Without stopping filming, of course!

First photo shoot in life Everything we have talked about so far applies to fairly adult babies from one year old and older. But what about the crumbs? They grow so quickly and change every day.

Don't be afraid to photograph them from day one.

As we said before, it is better to avoid flashing. Not even because a sharp sudden light can frighten a baby, but because the result will leave much to be desired. Therefore, try to use only natural light. Babies up to two months sleep a lot, which we will take advantage of by remembering the masterpieces of Anne Geddes. It is important not to forget that each frame must be thought out. Few people will be interested in a child photographed through the bars of a bed, but if you lay him on a green blanket and put a hat with caterpillar horns on his head, that’s a completely different matter. Remember that everything depends on your imagination. Come up with interesting stories, sew or buy costumes and props, and take advantage of the fact that your love doesn’t yet know how to run away from you.

If the baby is not sleeping, he should be in a good mood, namely, dry, well-fed, sleepy and healthy. If something doesn’t go as you would like, postpone shooting for a couple of hours, or even a day. The model's mood is the law. What if it's dark? We have already talked about what to do if you have to film in a poorly lit apartment. What if there is no way to increase the amount of light? You'll have to turn to the camera itself for help. Do not zoom out or bring the camera too close to your child. It’s better to capture the excess in the frame, then you can always crop it. Set your camera to shutter priority mode, if available. In some it is designated by the letters Tv, in some – S. A child is a moving creature, so the shutter speed (that is, the time while the shutter is open) should be no longer than 1/30 of a second. And the more active the child, the shorter the shutter speed.

The sensitivity should be quite high. 400, 800 or even higher. Yes, due to the high sensitivity, unpleasant artifacts appear in the picture in the form of noise, but this is better than blurry surrealism instead of a child playing. In addition, it will be better if you put the camera in continuous shooting mode and click in series. A couple of frames from the series will definitely be sharp.

Poses for shooting

Who said a good photographer doesn't have templates? They exist, there are just a lot of them. One example of a template is shooting poses. Those that are best suited for the first year of life. So, from the very beginning. Babies up to one and a half to two months: of course, lying down, but not from above, as we are used to photographing, but from eye level. Either in the arms of mom or dad. You can film the baby's face peeking over mom's shoulder from behind. From two to five months: at this age, the baby already holds his head well and even tries to get up on all fours, so put him on his tummy, and lie down in front of him and show him something interesting. A sitting pose is also good, but the child must have something in his hands, otherwise the fidget will not even allow you to focus. Six to nine months: The baby crawls vigorously on all fours and even stands on its feet. This is what we will be photographing, not forgetting to lie down on the floor. Ten months and older: the baby confidently stands or runs, and we still take a knee-elbow pose with the camera and try to catch up with the fleeing child.

Details are also important. With what surprise in a year or two you will look at your beloved’s old hats and sandals. How small he was! All this can be reflected in the photo if you pay attention to the details. For example, take a photo of a tiny foot in daddy's palms. Or tender fingers grasping your finger or something else whose size you know well. More attention to detail - later you will have something to remember. And in general, such photographs look very touching.

Shall we pose? All children are different: some can tinker with a toy for hours, while others find it difficult to sit still for a minute. But this does not mean that the second case is hopeless for shooting. Quite the opposite! The livelier and more active the child, the richer his facial expressions, the more interesting the pictures will be. And under no circumstances force your baby to pose for you. At best, you will get lifeless pictures with a stony expression on your face, and at worst, your little model will have a persistent aversion to being photographed. Play, have fun, have fun, and who knows, maybe photography will become not only your hobby, but also your baby’s favorite pastime.