Photographing Children Outdoors

Photographing children can be quite challenging especially if they are between the ages of one and four years old. Children at this age are usually uncooperative for photographs because they do not want to sit still and have a very short attention span. I have been photographing children professionally for over ten years and have given up expecting them to pose in front of the camera. Okay, sometimes it works; but not without a lot of coaxing, bribing, and tearing your hair out. I decided a few years ago, to skip indoor studio photography entirely for small children and instead take them to the great outdoors where they can just be themselves. The end result is that the kids have more fun than in a studio setting, the parent is not stressed and neither am I. It is a win-win situation all around.

Below are five tips for capturing the magical moments of your kids in an outdoor setting:

Tip #1 - Invest in a digital SLR camera. There are numerous advantages between a DSLR camera and a point and shoot. The main advantage in using a DSLR is that the camera won't have shutter lag. When the shutter lags (as is point and shoot cameras), shots are delayed by a second or two and any action is missed. The manual controls found in the digital SLR camera systems enable you to select faster shutter speeds and stop action. If you have a kid running around a million miles a minute, you will still be able to capture their playfulness and spontaneity. Digital SLR cameras have come down in price in the past few years and now you can purchase a great DSLR system for under $1000.

Tip #2 - Choose a place that the child is familiar with rather than seeking a new location. The beach may sound wonderful; however, many small children do not like the feel of sand on their feet. And to make matters worse, if the child cries, sand sticks to their face. The beach can provide a great backdrop, so visit it first to get your child use to the environment. Other ideal spots can be a nearby park that a child regularly visits. Choose a shaded area if shooting in mid-day. Sometimes your own backyard can be the best choice.

Tip #3 - Choose a time of day when the lighting is lowest to the horizon. The best time to take photographs is early in the day (1 -2 hours after sunrise) or at the end of the day (1-2 hours before sunset). I prefer the "sweet light" approximately 30 minutes before sunset (especially if I am at the beach). Shoot with the sun on the subject's back (back lighting) and use a fill flash to fill in the shadows and to add a catch-light and sparkle to the eyes. You can also try side-light; however you will need a large reflector to add highlights to the shadow side. Shade and clouds provide excellent filtered lighting. Last but not least, front lighting adds a golden glow to the skin and can provide a perfect natural light look, as long as the child is not squinting.

Tip #4 - Photograph children in relaxed and natural poses. A child picking up a stone, looking at a flower, looking at siblings, jumping and playing all make great life style portraits. Photographing life is what you will remember most about your child. If you are a professional photographer, your clients will appreciate your insight and creativity.

Tip #5 - If you are the main picture taker in your family, take the time to hand the camera to someone else and have your photo taken with your child. This is important not only for you, the parent, but for your children. As a mother of two grown children, I can vouch for the fact that my children appreciate their family even more when they look through a family album and view photos of their entire family.
To summarize, you will need at a good start-up DSLR camera with an adequate lens (zoom coverage from 35 - 70mm) to take great photos of your kids. Train yourself to use your left brain by learning the technical features of your DSLR camera. Also train your right brain so you are able to compose and create stories with your photographs. Photography is a creative and rewarding hobby/career however I cannot emphasize how important it is to learn the technical features of a camera.