Let them be kids

Whether you are at home or in the park, some of the best photos of your kids will be doing just what they love… Being kids! Let them play! Try to not interfere or draw their attention, but quietly snap photos of their joyful play or their quiet concentration. Whatever the activity they are involved in, try to capture it as it unfolds without being noticed.

Grab their attention 

On the flip side of letting them play, grab their attention. This can be done in several ways from gently calling their name to having a conversation and waiting for them to look up. I try to be gentle when asking for their attention as I want a soft and natural look. A simple "hey sweetie, look here." or "look at Mama." can work beautifully. 

Focusing their attention elsewhere

This is similar to the idea above but instead of drawing their attention to you, you are intentionally focusing their attention somewhere else. Encourage them to tell you what they see out the window and get their reflection in frame. Ask them to hold a special rock in their pocket or stand on a special leaf to help them be still for a moment. Kids are often drawn towards helping. A lot of kids would LOVE to hold that special rock for you. Ask if they can see the squirrel in the tree. This will help them pause for a brief moment while you snap a beautiful portrait of their profile lit with window light.

Get High or Low

This is a reminder to look at things from different angles. Is your child quietly reading? Get low to capture the book with their eyes over the top or their feet poking out underneath. Are they painting? Get up high and take a picture from over the top so you can see the masterpiece as it unfolds. Do you have a climber? Get low to show how high up that jungle gym or tree is. We often get stuck taking pictures as we see it from our own perspective and vantage point. Change things up and look at things from different angles. This is a really fun way to get creative!

Notice the light 

It's great if you can guide the situation to where the lighting would be optimal. Maybe set up a place to play over by a window or on a white or neutral colored blanket. Did you know that you can adjust your exposure even on your phone? If you notice your child is in the shadows with a bright background, you can adjust the exposure by  holding your finger on the screen right over their face. A little slider will pop up and you can adjust lighter or darker to fit the needs of the situation. 

Be Ready

This is a big one! We all know kids move fast. Try to be ready and anticipate the situation. Don't kick yourself if you miss it. It happens, another opportunity will unfold. It probably won't be the same shot but you'll be ready for the next good one.

Most importantly, keep it light and fun!!

Kids don't enjoy stopping and posing or holding still for a picture. They are after adventure and fun! They really just want to play. So keep the posing quick and get yourself moving to capture all the amazing picture opportunities while they are being themselves and letting their personalities shine. Then don't forget to frame and hang these or put them in an album. Pictures are made to be seen and shared. They were not meant to live in a cloud.