Capturing the Essence of Your Child

“Photography is a means of recording forever the thing one sees for a moment” ~Alfred Sussman

This quote has become one of my favorites--and rightfully so. Childhood is just that. A Moment. A fleeting one, which sometimes becomes difficult to recall with the passage of time. For this reason, I have become both an avid photographer and scrapbooker. My passion for scrapbooking grew from my desire to create lasting keepsakes to help my children revisit those precious childhood days. In order to tell the true stories of their lives, I worked diligently to improve my photography skills. I have since become a professional photographer, capturing the essence and personalities of many children and families, in addition to my own. I’d like to share a few basic pieces of advice, which are sure to help take your photography to new levels.

You don’t necessarily need the most expensive camera and equipment to improve your own photographs. All you need is a basic point and shoot camera, lots of film, some natural light, and, of course, an adorable subject!

One of the biggest ways to improve your photography is to take lots of pictures. When I was first learning the art of photography, I would often take several rolls of film and be happy to get two or three amazing shots. This is part of the learning process. In addition, children are often making different expressions and if you keep shooting, you are bound to capture some of them. It’s a very freeing feeling to give yourself permission to “waste” an entire roll or two and see what you get. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This image was from a test roll while trying out a new prop. I took an entire roll of 36 and this was one of the only ones I really liked. To date, this is one of my favorite portraits of my daughter.

While not taking enough pictures is one pitfall of the amateur photographer, probably the biggest mistake is not being close enough to the subject. By not making your subject the focus of the photograph, you have a “meaningless” image. Notice how lost the baby is in this photograph. Your eye is drawn to all the clutter first. Now, see how much stronger this image is when it is up close. The baby is the star of the image and the photograph has a much different feeling. If you are using a point and shoot, do a test one day to see how close your camera will let you get. Try “wasting” four photographs. Take the same picture four times, moving two feet each time. The first at 8 ft, second at 6ft, third at 4ft, and last at 2ft. When your pictures come back, you can easily see how close your camera will allow you to get. If your camera tends to blur every time you take a close-up, it might be time for an investment in a new camera. Just remember…get close! When you think you are close enough…get closer!

As I mentioned, in addition to feeling more connected with the subject of your photography, getting in closer also helps to remove distracting backgrounds which can have a profound effect on your overall image. If you are really feeling the desire to improve, you might spend a few dollars on a shower curtain rod and some solid colored sheets or fabric. Before I had my studio, I would rest my curtain rod with the sheets across two kitchen chairs and have my own little “shoot”. In this image, I used a piece of blue fabric I bought at a craft store. Here’s the same fabric used in a black and white image. You might also look for solid light colored walls in your house to use as a background. Have fun and be creative. The possibilities are endless.

Another huge mistake amateur photographers make is using their on-camera flash. Granted, there are times when it’s a must…indoor birthday parties, Christmas Eve, that spur of the moment shot. However, on camera flashes are positioned in such a way that they leave your images feeling dull and lacking emotion. The can create odd and distracting shadows that look unnatural. Here you can see her “extra” head and her face is washed out from too much light. The key is to find a spot in your home--a large window, an open door, inside your garage--and set up your shoot there. This image was shot in my bedroom with nothing more than the window light hitting her face. You also want to try to have the light coming in from the side for the most natural look. Be aware of how the light is hitting the eyes. Catchlights are very important to a good photograph. Notice how the light looks on your subject and move them around if you need to. If you don’t have a very well lit area, try using some faster speed films to help give you some extra light.

Once you’ve decided to shoot several rolls of film, found a good background and location, and have turned off your flash, you are ready to have some fun. The next thing to consider is your subject. I always try to schedule my portrait sittings around a good time for the subjects. Generally when they are well rested and fed, they are in a great mood for a photo shoot. However, sometimes they might need a little coaxing. When I use props, I try to keep them simple and elegant, so as to not distract from the child. For younger children, props sometimes serve as an attention getter and will keep them in place longer. As for clothing, simple is better. Light solid colors without designs and patterns look the best. Bare feet are also preferable (all you see is the bottoms of them when they are sitting down anyway).

After you get more comfortable with these suggestions, start experimenting with different camera angles and positions. Get down on the floor and look them eye to eye. Try turning your camera for some different effects. Avoid telling children to say “cheese”. Instead, talk to them. Tell them some jokes. Have them tell you some jokes. Remember, they don’t always have to be smiling, or even looking at the camera for that matter, to get a terrific shot. Often times, amateurs leave their cameras horizontally. Be sure to turn it vertically for a more “portrait” feel for your photographs.

By shooting more pictures, getting closer, and finding the right light your photographs are sure to improve. Simplicity is the key to capturing something on film that is seen with your heart. Have fun creating masterpieces which are sure to stay with you and your children for years to come and bring back the fondest of memories.