Capturing beautiful and professional photographs of your own children: a guide to creating lasting memories

We can’t have a professional photographer with us all the time, so at times, you’ll need to take on the role of photographer. I want to provide some tips to help you capture great moments. Whether you’re using a semi-pro camera or a phone, these tips will assist you in creating beautiful and memorable pictures.

When I take photos of my children, I don’t aim for perfectly posed shots where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. Instead, I seek to capture the little details that make them unique—their playful expressions, their natural interactions, and their genuine joy. I want the photos to reflect their individual personalities and the special bond we share as a family. It’s these candid moments that truly encapsulate the essence of who they are.

When photographing kids, I like to follow these rules to capture genuine and captivating pictures:

1. Get down to their eye level: This allows for more intimate and natural-looking portraits. When you photograph kids from their level, you can truly capture their innocence and charm.
2. Be unobtrusive: It’s important to let kids be themselves. This means being like a “fly on the wall” and discreetly capturing their genuine expressions and interactions without interrupting their play or activities.
3. Find the best light: Good lighting is crucial for stunning photos. If indoors, position yourself near a window to utilize natural light. If outdoors, look for well-shaded areas to avoid harsh shadows.
4. Encourage play and movement: Kids are full of energy, so encourage them to engage in activities they love. Let them run, play, or ride their skateboard, and be prepared to take candid shots capturing their joyful and carefree moments. You can try capturing unique angles, like shooting from above while they lay on a blanket, to add variety to your shots.
5. Kids are obsessed with silly words; sometimes, I get the best smiles when I shout things like “poop,” “farts,” and many others they consider funny.

Bonus tips:

1. When capturing images from above, remember that the focus will be on what’s closest to the camera. Embrace this unique perspective to highlight details like hair and facial expressions, creating intriguing photographs that tell a story from above.
2. When photographing children, seek to create a relaxed and natural environment that encourages genuine and joyous expressions. Let go of traditional poses and allow their authenticity to shine through, resulting in heartwarming and natural photographs.
3. Embrace movement during a photoshoot to infuse your images with energy and authenticity. Encouraging subjects to move freely and be themselves can lead to dynamic and captivating photographs that capture the true essence of the moment.