How can I take great photos of my kids without posing them?

[sioleabha]

How can I get great photos of my kids without having to pose them? I have become very disillusioned with posed photography; dragging my kids around to that perfect light and turning them round and round until I have the shot I want. I want photos of them as they are, without having to stop and let mommy take their picture. I know photojournalists and nature photographers take great photos without posing, but when I do it the photos just look like snapshots, even though I am still trying to compose by the rule of thirds. Is there some trick I am missing?

Also, what equipment is best for this type of photography?

[ngoduyviet]

No tricks, just keep on shooting, kids are really tough to shoot, especially the hyperactive ones, but once you get the shots you love, you'll want more...

It helps if you have fast glass, and a decent flash.

BTW: #!/usr/bin/mom/gallery ? man you are geeky LoL

[sioleabha]

Originally Posted by ngoduyviet

BTW: #!/usr/bin/mom/gallery ? man you are geeky LoL

LOL, can't deny my first love. ;)

[L Stegall]

I find you can get more spontaneous shots of them when they don't know that you are taking their pictures - a longer lens will help you there. Don't ask them to pose - just have your camera ready and watching what they are doing. I think lots of "snapshots" don't really fill the frame with their subject - that, to me, makes a big difference in how your unposed, natural images will turn out. Have fun and just shot a lot.

[toverman]

I shoot most photos of my kids candidly, and those turn out to be my favorite shots. Since our 2-year-old was born, I think we've tried to actually pose both of our boys together a grand total of three times. The rest of the time they are playing, eating, romping, laughing, etc. etc. etc.

Once kids get used to you having the camera around while they do their thing, they won't even think anything of it. Rather than associate photo-taking with doing something they don't want to do, they'll just be themselves. It might take time to overcome past experiences, but it will happen.

Sometimes they'll even "pose" without being asked. This was a fleeting moment I happened to be ready for (I posted this yesterday in the People forum): see it here. If a 2-year-old can do that without prompting, there's hope for anyone. It might take longer for older kids to adjust because they'll roll their eyes, hide from the camera, act silly, etc. But give them time! If I'd planned it, I would have had my flash mounted for fill, or a reflector to kick more light onto his face. But that would remove the spontaneity from the moment and maybe suck a little fun out of it as well.

The key will be investing (scary word, I know) in a longer lens. If you shoot them in your back yard a lot with plenty of light, it doesn't have to be super fancy. If you want to get more professional results, I'd recommend one of the excellent Canon 70-200 zooms (the f/4 version is super sharp and less expensive than the f/2.8 versions). Having a good lens lets you blur out the background, focusing on your subject and giving it a more professional look. The 50 f/1.8 is fine for this kind of shot, but you have to be in their faces to fill the frame with their cute mugs. If you like primes rather than zooms, an 85 f/1.8 is a fine choice and can be found used (on this forum) often for $300 or less.

[sanmay]

I think the best way to photograph children is let them be.
You just have to be ready to shoot when it happens. Most of the time I imagine, if I were the parent what would I want to remember from that moment.

[Falkor02]

The best thing I can offer is to just keep shooting. I had this once picture that I dearly loved of my 19 month neice. I took 3 pictures all within a few seconds of eachother. The first one was posed just right, the flash filled her perfectly, but her face was just not quite right... the expression was a bit off. The second picture was perfect. A cute smile, perfect fill light, looking right at the camera, all the elements came into perfect sync. The 3rd picture was almost as good, but the flash failed to shoot so it was too dark.

Had I not keept shooting I may have missed the shot I wanted.

Got to love digital cameras, delete what you don't want and you've lost nothing.

[ggeen]

PLEASE, Please, please, don't be my dad. "Hey, I want a photograph of that <insert object here>. One of you kids go stand in front of it." Huh:?!?

Besides, I was more comfortable behind the camera. I have a good face for radio. :)
-G

[paul48503]

I love to take photo's of children. The best way to get good shots is to have fun. Let them have fun. Even let them get silly. I usually take photo's expecting to get photo's that parents want to show to others. It amazing how it works... Expect to get atleast 1 good shot that you will be proud of. Usually you wind up getting more than you expected. Hope this helps.

[Aric C. Hoek]

use a shallow depth of field.

[MicWayWal]

Michelle,

I like to set up an activity like a game in a controlled environment. Set the room up with lights coming from two opposite directions and bright enough that you will not need a flash but still have a fast shutter speed. Like Aric says use a very shallow depth of field. Use a long lens that will allow you to stay far away from them, yet get a close-up view.

Have them play a game of something simple like CandyLand. One time you can put it on the table, next time on the floor. If they need another adult have someone else help with the game. You can't get involved with the game. Stand off and shoot. Don't come out from behind your camera. Shoot, shoot and shoot. You will get some great expressions, from excitement, laughter to sadness and disappointment.

Let us know how it goes.

[Corrie]

I seriously just put them in the way of decent light and just stalk them.

[photostein]

Do this and you are most of the way there.

1) Buy a very fast prime lens (e.g. 50mm 1.4, 85 1.8) used for around $250 to $350 with a hood.

2) Put your camera on continuous shooting mode and put a big old CF card (like 4GB in your camera

3) Set your ISO on 400 or 800 (you want that shutter speed high)

4) GET THEM OUTSIDE IN THE SHADE (this is the most important thing since you get that soft light on them no matter their direction)

5) Shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot.

I cannot tell you now many times I get the "what did I do wrong" and the biggest problem was backlighting, severe shadows from overhead lighting, etc.... If you are in the shade (say under a breezeway, or on an overcast day (the best), you don't have to sweat the lighting so much and can enjoy your shooting.

The fast lens should be dialed to around f/2 or f/2.8 on aperture priority mode (if you are not happy with manual mode). One other thing that helps me is I meter (you can get a meter under $100) every location so I don't have to fudge around with having the camera think for me. Once you read the manual on the meter for about 30 seconds, you can use it by a window, take a test shot that it is metering correctly, and you can then use on location fast.

Photography used to be a skill, now it is more of a crippled hobby.

I am also getting crotchity in my old age (38 of as last year). I know the OP is willing to work at it, but so many people blame the camera, etc... when they don't know the first thiing about lighting, exposure, etc....

Enjoy!

[kenw]

and get down low, on their level. I prefer a longer, faster lens like my 100/2.8 as I can shoot from a distance without them knowing it. These are pretty grainy but here's some I did at church awhile back. No flash, Canon 10d and 100/2.8 on iso 800 iirc, maybe 1600. www.bammel.org/photos.html

[msabas]

I usually just take my kids out in the yard and let them play around, I don't call on them or have them even look at me I just let them be them and play.

Normally it's just me sitting in the grass and looking for those good shots.. It is tough becasue every shot is not the one you want but do this enough and you will find it.

Here is one I took just outside while we played.. also probably one of my best ever of them using this method of shooting pics of my kids..



I hope this helps..