Who loves to take pictures of their kids? Well, let me rephrase that….who loves to have pictures of their kids? I love to have pictures of my kids, whether it be on my phone or hanging on my living room wall. The actual picture taking process can be overwhelming when it involves children. Here are a few tips that have made taking photographs of my children less of a challenge coming from a non-photographer.
Take pictures while they are in their element.
The best way to get great authentic pictures of children is by taking them while they are in their element. Playing with blocks, snap a picture. Blowing bubbles or playing with dolls, snap a picture. Some of my favorite pictures of my kids are when they are in their element!
Be prepared to take those photographs.
I have learned that being prepared in life makes things easier in general. When you add kids to the picture, being prepared is even more important to me. Before getting started, have your camera ready! That way you can quickly capture those moments.
Find places in your home with great natural lighting. Shoot, get outside if possible! Lighting makes all the difference in your photographs. Besides lighting, there is one app that plays a huge part in some of the pictures I take when using my iPhone. That would be Snapseed, and it is free! If you don’t have it, you need it! Great app for newbie picture takers.
As I mentioned above, one of the best places to take pictures of children is in their element. You can also incorporate props.
A few cute prop ideas include:
Picnic setup: throw down a simple blanket, a cute basket with bright colored food items (cut strawberries, green apples, cheese string, etc)
Friend tea party or super hero gathering: just surround your child with any furry stuffed animal or figurine, making the setup look like your child is talking with their ‘friends’
Bubble blowing party: this is so cute; have your child blow bubbles and try to capture those bubbles with your child
Sunglasses, jewelry, hats, etc: any type of accessory is perfect when it comes to taking photographs of kids. Let your child decide!
Felt word board: You all know what I am talking about. These felt word boards are a hit these days. Put a fun quote or a personality statement about your child. Then prop it up somewhere in the background.
Have fun with photography!
Lastly, have fun! My kids know when I am stressing out, and will shut down really quick. When you make it about them and have fun with it, you will get the best authentic pictures.
These are great tips! I’m going to check out Snapseed.
Thank you so much! Yes, Snapseed is awesome!
Great advice! I feel like taking pictures of kids in their element is the best way to get candid, natural, happy shots. Great advice!
Thank you so much!
Such a great read. I love taking candid shots of my kids instead of staged ones. It makes sure that their personalities shine through!
Same! I love candid shots over staged ones as well!
I definitely like those more candid photos. These are all great ideas! I am all about natural light, it’s the only way I usually take pictures unless I’m in a pinch.
Thank you! I am always looking for ways to add natural light 😉
Taking pictures of kids is really tough because they only want to play. But these are great tips. Having fun with photography is best ides. I’ll surely try this with my 2-year-old niece. Thanks for sharing
Oh my goodness, yes! The struggle can be real with kids! I have to make it fun for my toddler to at least cooperate haha!
I couldn’t agree more: I think being prepared to take the photo is a huge part of successful photos with the little ones! Mine is always on the go so I always have to have my camera ready to capture the sweet moments.
I can relate with that on the go action haha! Being prepared is a life saver!
I don’t have kids yet, but I always wonder how mamas handle this! Lol, I have a hard time getting a photo of my 2.5 year old niece! I love the last point the most though. It makes sense, but we don’t always realize we’re throwing out the stressed out vibes and I can imagine the kids would shut down right away. Making it light and fun is great for everyone!
Yes! I have learned (but not always good at remembering) to try and not stress over getting that perfect picture. It rarely happens when I am stressing over it!
Such cute photos and great advice! It’s hard being prepared for those little moments all the time.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for a wonderful post ????
Thank you so much!
Great advice! It has to be one of the challenges in life is taking a good quality photo. I guess patience is also the answer! haha
Patience is most certainly the answer to all haha!
I love,love,love this pictures. I have young kids and can relate.
This are all great pictures. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so very much! Picture taking can be difficult but the finished product is so worth it!