DC Photographer

How to shoot great photos of your kids

By Washington DC wedding photographer, Blake Newman

Photo © Blake, Great kids photos start with faces and expressions

Kids are like puppies and kittens, they are so doggone cute!

The secret to great children photography is to come in close, focus on the eyes, focus on the the expressions, and take lots of photos.  Also, I highly recommend shooting horizontally.

Why horizontal?  For one, our eyes are side by side, not on top of each other.  We go through life seeing horizontally and panoramically.  Horizontal orientations are so much more natural than vertical.  Besides, it allows you to come in closer without boxing them in.  Often, you will see my shots missing foreheads and chins because I think the eyes and lips are much more important.

Photo: Blake Newman (c) photography at the playground

See again how this horizontal composition just seems to work.  Also, I tend to compose the most important part of my photo off to the side, often in 1/3 of the photo.  Be sure to take your camera with you everywhere, to the playground, to the mall, the world is a photo opportunity.  And remember to come in close, it’s all about the expressions – and they don’t always have to be smiles either.  Shooting your kids at the playground keeps you engaged and lets them know that you are paying attention to them.

This was a completely natural and spontaneous shot by Andrea at a wedding.  She stood way back, shot with her 200mm zoom and focused on the girl playing with the flowers.  The composition was great and the expression very natural.  In the second shot, you can see in her left hand an old teddy bear, which made the shot even more classic and priceless.

Photo: Blake Newman © Foot in mouth photo

Weddings are great opportunities to shoot kids

Rest assured, if there are children at your wedding, Andrea or I will be all over them. We know how important children are to weddings and the natural cycle of life. Children photography at weddings create incredible photo opportunities and add a new dynamic to both the wedding and the photography.

If you would like to learn more about us and our photography, please give us a call at 310.880.1162 or e-mail me at blake (at) inqbation (dot) com.