Even if photography isn’t your thing, do a mini photo session with them. Instead of just taking random snaps, make the effort to tidy them up and choose a good place to take some photos.
If you’ve got more than one child, co-ordinate their outfits.
Choose a place that’s shady. Don’t go out into bright sunshine to do this! Wait until the right time of day - when the kids are happy to play and the light is good but not strong. I took these photographs between 5 and 6pm in April in Italy.
If you can, choose a place where there is a quite a lot of the same kind of background. What do I mean by that? Think of a forested place or even a long hedge row. The kids can move around a bit and your background is always similar. Making them stay in one place is a nightmare if they’re young. Letting them play works best.
Contrasts work well so light-coloured outfits against a dark background or vice-versa.
Think variety. Some of them individually, some of them together - a variety of combinations if you have more kids. Have them concentrating, looking serious, smiling, laughing, playing. Mix up the mood of the photographs. This way you’ll end up with a well-balance overall set of results.
Use props - take toys, pick flowers, this gives them something to take their minds off having their photographs taken and they’ll soon forget you are there. You’ll end up with more natural results.
You’re having trouble getting them to look at you when you want that kind of shot? Shout ‘look what’s on my head - I think a frog just jumped on there, can you see it? what’s it doing? Oooooh, it’s pooping!!!’ On cue, all kids looking and even better, all kinds laughing. Result.
Don’t worry about what kit you’re using. Use your iPhone if that’s the best camera you’ve got. iPhone photography can be AMAZING!
Finally, re-read point 1 and make a plan. Our kids, nieces, nephews, friends’ kids are all growing up so incredibly quickly. Photographs are one of the most important things that you can do for them so that they’ll have something to look back on when they’re old :-)
