Five Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Kids

Photographing kids can sometimes be a tricky task, but don’t let that stop you from taking great in-the-moment photos! I am no expert in photography. In fact, most pictures of Myles are taken with my iPhone because it is always with me. I don’t own a fancy camera. (Although I wish I did). But using these few tricks, I’m able to get some decent shots.

Here are a few tips when trying to chase down your little one for that perfect in-the-moment snapshot:

Take multiple photos in a row. You know how kids are, they can’t sit still at times. Taking multiple pictures of the same shot will usually leave you with a few good photos to choose from. When little Myles was a baby, I loved catching his different expressions.

Try taking your photos from different angles. It’s not always important to see their entire face in every photo. Sometimes I am more pleased with the candid photos than the ones of him looking right into the camera, smiling. They look less posed and more natural.

Get down to their level. Okay, so maybe shortly after this picture I had a shoe in my face, but I got a good shot! Getting down to “kid-level” adds dimension to the picture, makes it more interesting and also you can see what everything looks like at their height.

Take photos of everyday life. When I first brought Myles home from the hospital, I took a few pictures of him swaddled tightly in his bassinet–complete with his little hat on and binky in mouth. I almost deleted it because it wasn’t the most attractive photo. But looking back, I’m thankful I have a snapshot of that memory. Not every photo needs to by styled or look like a professional portrait. Take pictures of everything, because the time goes so fast and with every new stage brings an end to another. Document them all–even crying in their little snow suits!

Lastly, Avoid bright flashes. Using natural light is the best way to go because it doesn’t create fake and sometimes harsh lighting. Taking photos outside is probably the easiest, but you can take some great photos inside if you open up the curtains and allow for natural light to pour in.

Have any tips you’d like to share?

[This post was originally written for cincysavers.com. Click here to find more of my writing on cincysavers.]