Candid shots of children

adamsfour · Jul 22, 2007

I have been using my own children as guniea pigs and am now moving on to friends kids. They have two or more mobile children so I need ideas of how to pose them or tricks to get good photos. I have the usual props ready, bubbles, balls, etc.
We are shooting outdoors and I want very candid casual photos.
I am also open to books that you can recommend.

Here is what I have done with my 2 year old.
http://picasaweb.google.com/speedolife/Matthew?authkey=iMauA8dKVVg

http://picasaweb.google.com/speedolife/MatthewAtTheLake?authkey=h8qmtJCCJE0

Also, how do I get that professional look to my photos. I have been told that I dont turn the camera enough, I am working on that.

It is VERY ok to edit my photos, especially if you can offer cropping suggestions or how I could have framed a shot better.

Thanks!

grammaterri · Jul 22, 2007

wow is he cute! I don't have any advice lol, just wanted to say how darling he is

btw I have 14 grandchildren ranging in age from 17 months to 12 years old

adamsfour · Jul 22, 2007

Thanks.
Here is the baby, he is 5 months old and not mobile so I am having to get creative on how to capture what he really looks like instead of doing the "baby on the floor" shot.

http://picasaweb.google.com/speedolife/Seth5Months?authkey=YOIhtAgPOBA

Flash Harry · Jul 23, 2007

Try him face down, at this age he'll push himself up and you'll get a good front on shot, babies flat on their backs make boring pics. H

grammaterri · Jul 23, 2007

adamsfour said:
Thanks.
Here is the baby, he is 5 months old and not mobile so I am having to get creative on how to capture what he really looks like instead of doing the "baby on the floor" shot.

http://picasaweb.google.com/speedolife/Seth5Months?authkey=YOIhtAgPOBA

aww I just wanna kiss him

you can view my grandkids http://picasaweb.google.com/terri.knoll/MyGrandkids

with the reminder that I am just a point and shoot grandma

JodieO · Jul 23, 2007

adamsfour said:
Also, how do I get that professional look to my photos.

Shoot without your flash - learn how to shoot in total manual with you picking your aperture and shutter. When you shoot with the on-board flash, you are getting "snapshot" light instead of professional lighting.

There are several directions you can go with this...

1. Learn how to work with natural light only.
2. Learn how to bounce or manipulate "off camera" flash.
3. Learn how to use strobe lighting.

Or all three

It's one of those things that you will need to decide what direction you would like to go....

JenR · Jul 23, 2007

JodieO is a phenomenal photographer, so please listen to her advice -- She knows what she is talking about!

I don't think I can help you in the posing department. If the kids are cooperative, I usually get the kids in a spot with good light then just talk to them or make silly faces or whatever else works to get them looking in my direction. I get their natural expressions and body language that way. Personally, I would rather have a photo that embodies their spirit and personality rather than a stiff, formal "posed" shot.

I'm not sure how much post-processing you do on your images, but that might be another avenue to improve them. I grabbed this shot from the first gallery you shared. Let me know if you would like me to remove it.

What I did:
1) slight levels adjustment
2) soft light layer at about 50% opacity
3) sharpened

Hope that helps a little!

adamsfour · Jul 26, 2007

Thanks JenR! I like the editing. That is my sons "catching hands". The tounge is a new thing he has started, who knows with a 2 year old.
Did you do anything special to bring out the color of his eyes other than what you listed? What program are you using to edit?

JodieO - Your site is beautiful! Your photos are fantastic! Thanks for the advice. I never think to use the flash outdoors if it is sunny or overcast...
1. How should I use my flash on overcast days or on sunny days in shade?
I have a SB-600, should I point to the sky and diffuse, put on the apollo softbox and shoot straight on or bounce and use a white card?
2. What method do you use to convert to Black & White? Your bw phots are so crisp.
3. In your studio, are you shooting with strobe lighting?

I have been trying to work with natural light, I pick the most bright overcast days and head out to shoot. Sometimes the sun comes out on me (like the lake photos) but the other photos in the park it was so bright, but no sun. I ended up with a blue hue on both days, ironic, huh?

Here are more questions if anyone is in the mood:
1. Do you always use flash outdoors, even if a fill flash isnt needed?
2. Would a flash help with my WB issues?
3. I got a grey card, should I still use a flash and/or do a custom WB every 15 mins?

Thanks everyone for the help. I have no desire to be a professional, I just want my photos to look like I am.

JenR · Jul 30, 2007

Glad you like the edit. I don't think I did anything special to his eyes, but I don't really remember now. Sometimes I will add a screen layer and extra sharpening just on the eyes to bring them out more. I use Photoshop Elements to do my edits.

skieur · Jul 30, 2007

You are taking the wrong approach to child photography. Some of my best shots have been when I was crawling around on the floor of a junior kindergarten classroom. The kids totally ignored me and were engaged in their own thoughts and their own activities and that made the best closeup shots. I also got shots of my daughter and our dog trying to play with the same toy. My larger dogs have always been gentle with little kids. One child lined up all his toys in front of my dog to play with. It made a great candid shot.

Get the kids active, involved, doing things and interacting with toys, dogs, other children, adults etc. The result is much better photos.

skieur

davincisoprano1 · Jul 30, 2007

they were watching the ducks in the fountain at the peabody hotel in orlando

michaelb · Jul 31, 2007

My kids are so sick of me taking thier picture, but im strictly film for now, but i only shoot natural light and have noticed the big difference since i started doing that

LokiZ · Jul 31, 2007

Only thing I could add would be to watch your framing.

I did not see it mentioned, but tighten up your framing. More son less grass. Not on all shots mind you but definitely give it a whirl. You would be surprised what framing in close on a child's face do for the shot. Or any shot.

Helps to direct your viewer, make sure they focus on what you wanted them to focus on... the kids! Other then that doing good and there was a lot of good info in this thread.

LokiZ · Jul 31, 2007

michaelb said:
My kids are so sick of me taking thier picture, but im strictly film for now, but i only shoot natural light and have noticed the big difference since i started doing that

If your kids are sick of you taking their pics on film I can only imagine how they will feel once the cost of film is no longer a detail for you.

I would have to say that my son get tired of my camera, but not my daughter LOL

Neuner · Jul 31, 2007

I'm not one to comment since I read these threads trying to learn myself, but I found that the photos I like the best of my kids are ones that I take shooting up at them. I guess it's natural to photograph them the same as we see them - looking down on them. I tried laying on the ground and shooting up at them. It makes them & their surroundings larger than life, kindof the way they see us.