How to Take Professional Quality Photos of Your Kids

When most parents pull out photos of their children to show me, I almost always see the same thing over and over. Half of the photos are underexposed shots inside the house, usually with lots of toys or clutter, and the other half show the kids dressed up nice - all sitting in for a professional shoot on that same cloudy blue backdrop. Yep, you know the one.

What many parents don't know is that you can take beautiful professional quality artistic shots of your kids with just a regular home camera. Here's how to save money and get better shots of your children.

Why take your own portraits?

Professional photos can be expensive. Not only that, but you may not get enough photos in the package you can afford, or you may get more than you need. It can also be a hassle to get the kids dressed and ready and off to your photo shoot appointment. Babies often get anxious in front of strangers and may cry. It can be a very stressful experience. When you take your own photos, you can stay home where kids may be more comfortable and picture-taking can be more fun.

What you will need:

Don't worry, it doesn't take any special equipment to get great photos of your kids. Just about any camera will do. If you are using a film camera, be sure to use the correct speed film. ISO 100-125 film is good for all-around photography. If you are shooting indoors, try 200 or higher. If you want black and white photos for a film camera, be sure to use black and white film.

If you are using a digital camera, you will need a camera that shoots 8 mega pixels or higher if you want to blow up your photos into 8x10 prints.

Lighting Basics

You should shoot outdoors if you can. Indoor photos require special external flash equipment in order to look good. Overcast days are best for photos because they light your subject evenly. If you shoot in full sun, choose a shady spot. Bright light will cast dark shadows on the face under the eyes and nose.

When shooting, make sure the subject is not backlit (the light source is behind the subject) or they will be silhouetted. You should also not have the sun directly in front or it will cause your subject to squint. Backlighting can, however, be used to take lovely artistic photographs when used correctly.

You can also use a light colored reflective surface to bounce light onto your subject. A white sheet or piece of white poster board can be placed outside of the photograph and aimed at your subject's face to bounce more light toward them. This is a professional trick that looks much better than using a flash.

Backgrounds

Simple, uncluttered backgrounds are best. You want as few colors and details in the background as possible. Nature gives us all kinds of beautiful backgrounds for photos. Flower beds, tall grassy fields, stone walls, uniform bushes, sky, water, and autumn leaves are some of the simplest backgrounds. Later, when you get more practice, you can include other elements into the shot such as props, places, settings, and animals.

Fill the Frame

The biggest mistake that most people make and one that can improve the look of your photos the most is filling the frame by getting in close to your subject. Get in close to the shot and leave only a little room between your subject and the edges of the photos. The only time you should include lots of background is when you are trying to focus on it in a beautiful scenic shot. If the subject does not fill the frame, put them off to the side of the photo and never in the center.

Some Shots to Try

For an infant, dress or undress the baby and lay him or her on a bed draped with black cloth. Use thumbtacks to pin the back of the cloth to the wall or drape it over the headboard of the bed. Shoot near a window and use black and white film.

Have your kids lay out on some grass or on a quilt in the yard and stand over them as you shoot down. You can use a ladder to get higher if you are too close.

Window light is very flattering. Try a shot on an overcast day with your child sitting beside a window half looking out. The room should be dark and the area behind the child should be dark black or uncluttered.

You can also get some great ideas by going online and searching art sites for portraits of children. Deviantart.com is a great one. Stock photo websites also have some great examples of homemade children's portraits. Check around to see what other people are shooting and try to use some of their ideas if you are getting stuck trying to think of some on your own.