Featured Technique

Take this shot: Children

We all want great photographs of our kids that we can keep forever, but children aren’t always the easiest of subjects to capture. They’re so full of energy, it’s  mpossible to keep them still long enough to take a decent snap. The solution is just as obvious as the reason behind why they aren’t the easiest subjects – just don’t even try to keep them still! Not only are posed pictures difficult to achieve, they can also be rather dull and old-fashioned in appearance. It’s much better to snap your kids doing what they do best (ie making mayhem) as it captures  something of their unique energy and personality. Pics like these make for much  more vivid memories when you look back on your photos in years to come. So, treat photography as a game rather than a chore. Get your kids doing something they love, like riding a bike, and snap away while they’re in their element. Not only will this result in better pictures, it will also bring a smile to their faces, rather than a sulk or a glance in the other direction. Something we’re sure many  parents despair at when trying to take a photo! Don’t just take one shot either. A series of ‘action’ shots are far more likely to result in a great photo than one single attempt.

1. Keep ‘em busy
Your kids will be far more likely to cooperate for the camera if they’re doing something they enjoy. The trick is to make them forget that the camera is there. So, start up a game or get them riding their bike

2. Candid snaps
Often the best strategy is to keep the kids so occupied they don’t notice the camera. But in a shot like this, the picture has become part of the fun of the bike riding game, so the child has no problem in showing his smile for the camera

3. Fill the space
Kids are bold and full of life, so give your picture a bold framing too. Don’t snap from a distance, but take a shot that fills the whole frame with a beaming face. That way, your kid’s personality will shine through

4. Backgrounds
The angle of this shot is unusual but effective. By shooting from low-down, the photographer not only gives a dramatic perspective but also turns the blue sky into a cheerful but clean and uncluttered backdrop

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