“This is a special balancing trick that requires a small child to stay completely still (so it’s still only theoretical).” –Story People
Ah, it’s finally here. Spring has officially arrived! The kids can run around outside without jackets. Sidewalk chalk and bubbles make a return. The neighborhoods are bursting with color and you want to capture it all. I know, I know, your kids won’t sit still for pictures. They won’t stand next to your daffodils and smile with their eyes open. They refuse to wear the poofy, white, itchy dress you bought on sale and were so excited about. Shame on them. The good news is, there are a lot of great opportunites for non-posed pictures this spring and I want to help you capture them with these six easy tips.
Whether you’re a beginner with a point and shoot or are trying our your fancy new DSLR Chrismas gift, these tips will help you capture all those special moments and action packed adventures you’re sure to have this spring.
Take it with you.
Fact: you can’t take pictures without your camera. Don’t just take it out for special events – leave it out where you can access it quickly. If you’re gardening in the yard, take it. If you’re going to the grocery store, take it. If you’re on carpool duty, take it. Your entire day is full of special moments and you want to have your camera ready to caputure the sun light in their hair, or they way they light up when you let them pick out oranges, or when three best friends rock out to their favorite song in the back seat of your car.
Shoot early. Shoot late.
You can’t plan all of life’s adventures. But for the times when you can, it’s good to keep in mind that the light outside is at it’s best about two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. Anything in the middle is going to give you harsh shadows and less than desirable exposures. This time of year, here in Seattle, that’s roughly 9am and 5pm. Bonus: there’s usually less people out and about at those times too.
Shoot in the shade.
I know the whole reason you went outside was for those blue skies and that piercing sun but your camera gets a little overwhelmed when it’s that bright. Moving under a tree or to the shady side of building will produce a more evenly lit backdrop, softer skin tones and less squinting eyes.
Get Close. Get Closer.
The only way to see those dimples and freckles and long long eyelashes is if you get close. There’s no rule that says you can’t fill up the frame with blues eyes, a scrunchy nose and ringlets. The self cut bangs? The pink toenails? Dirty hands and scratched up knees? Yes, please. These are the perfect fillers for scrapbooks and albums!
Get little.
You’re big. They’re little. Get your camera down on the ground and see what they see…the way they see it. Have you tried taking pictures of your little sidewalk chalk artist from down on the sidewalk? The Easter egg hunt from the perspective of the egg? Wrestling in the grass…from the grass? When you get down on their level you can create an image with a powerful perspective.
Use the “sports” button.
Those little darlings of yours sure do move around a lot. That’s okay. Most digital cameras have a “sports” setting that works perfectly for darting two year olds and six year old sprinters. I know the manual is scary but check it out to see how your camera does this. Many of them include a continuous burst option that allows you to hold the shutter down while tracking your little wiggler. You probably won’t use all ten shots but a couple of them will likely be darling. And with these kind of settings you can encourage your kiddo to run right at you while you snap away. If you’re a little more advanced, you’ll want to set your ISO to the lowest possible setting in bright conditions and much higher in low light conditions to freeze the action. If you’re setting your own aperture, you’re best off not dropping your f/stop lower than 5.6 as the shallow depth of field might cause your little one to run out of focus.
Give actions. Not Cheese.
If I’m your family photographer, I hereby request that you never ask your kids to say “cheese” ever again. Bless their little hearts they want to make you so proud by following your request and doing it as big as they can. As if bigger were somehow better. But moms, I know you don’t like the shots with that big old cheesy grin. So stop asking for it! Instead, give them a tickle or make farting sounds. Threaten to “get” their toes or pick your nose. Let them spin in circles until they’re drunken dizzy with delight. And at the end of the day when the sun is going down and they get sleepy and are soft and snugly, know that those are picture perfect moments too. They don’t even have to know you’re taking the picture. Daydreaming eyes and pouty lips are simply irresistible.
!
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