Kids can be such great fun and challenge to photograph
I like to take portraits of little kids, but I really like them to be natural environmental portraits. Sometimes it takes some time and experimentation before kids start to relax. One thing that I have to explain to parents it that they cannot participate in directing their children. Directions like, “Not that smile, I want to see teeth,” from a parent just makes kids more tense and nervous about what is about to happen. Kids like to play and that is when their most real and natural expressions come out.
Once they get used to me clicking off the shutter every couple of moments, then they stop with unnatural expressions and realize that nothing bad is going to happen to them. Sometimes I play with them by asking them to do something that may feel a little uncomfortable in order to elicit natural expressions. I asked this brother and sister to look into each other’s eyes. Of course when you are close to another person and looking into their eyes, you are going to start smiling. It’s uncomfortable in a good way.
Related posts:
- A telephoto zoom and kids / I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE natural smiles.
- Touch and whisper for great looking natural smiles
- Senior Portraits in Snow, Horse and Rider Portraits in Snow & Family and Kids in Snow
- Casual family portraits and high energy little boys
- HELP PORTRAIT Dayton was fun and a great learning experience for all involved