I hope we can all agree there’s no replacing a professional photographer. Among many other talents, professional photographers have years of experience in posing, knowledge of composition, tricks to deal with uncooperative children, expertise to use high-end equipment, and the ability to photograph the entire family together.
It would be a disservice, however, to devalue how far smartphone cameras have come in recent years. It’s also important to recognize that the images you take of your daily life from your convenience of that pesky little device always in your pocket capture just as many priceless moments as your photographer does … if not more.
So, today I wanted to walk through some ways you can take better photos of your children (& family) yourself.
I put this one first because I strongly believe it’s the most important. Capturing the perfect photo takes time, even for us professionals. The quickest way to miss a great photo is to just give up too soon. I took a documentary family photography course a few years ago by Kirsten Lewis Bethmann, and she emphasized that children love to repeat things. And, if you’re a parent, you know without a doubt she’s right. So if you miss a great “catch a snowflake on the tongue” moment … don’t fret. I’d be willing to bet $10 that they’ll do it again if you just wait around long enough.
I photograph my own family entirely with my analog film camera these days. One of the main reasons I manage to capture such wonderful film photographs of my children is that they’re used to seeing me use it all the time and I don’t ask anything from them. They’re able to fully be themselves around my camera because they know that I’m not expecting them to perform. I don’t shout “cheese!” or “look here!” (Ok, maybe once a month.. I AM human).
Most of my favorite photos of children are taken down at their level. Getting low not only makes for a much more visually appealing image, but also helps relax children into opening up and feeling comfortable around the camera. It feels that much more intimate, too, whenever you capture your kids at their height. You can imagine what it must feel like to be that age again … when the world was so big and you were so small.
Whether it’s lines from the horizon, car, or door frames/windows, make sure your lines are straight. This small thing can make a huge difference on a photo’s quality. Plus, it’s an easy fix to make after you’ve already taken a photo simply by using the crop feature.
Remember those rubber band rolls your baby used to have on the legs? What about those chiclet teeth that had just barely popped through their pink gums? Those wide-fit New Balance sneakers that you had to buy your son in every size because nothing else would fit him? Oh, maybe that one is just me! Don’t forget to capture the details of your children because, although I know you think you’ll never forget them, the mind is a fickle and forgetful place. I promise you’ll want to look back on those type of images sooner than later.
When you do want a more “look at the camera and smile” photo of your children, don’t be afraid to act totally and ridiculously silly to get it. Instead of saying, “Say cheese!” ask, “Whose toots are the stinkiest in this house?”. Try having dad bust out those silly mouth sound effects (why does every dad have some?!). These goofy tricks can lead to much more willing and genuine smiles.
While I know any photo of your children is going to hold value to you as their parents, I hope you find these easy tips helpful in photographing them with confidence and with a little more artistic approach.
If you’d like to check out the stunning family photography publication that featured one of these images of mine, go explore Heartful Magazine’s Fall 2024 edition here. To see some of my client work, check out a recent newborn session I had.