Those darn kids

[lbcyalater]

So I was hoping someone out there could provide me with tips on shooting kids, in paticular a 1 year old. I have never shot kids before and im just doing it for a friend but I would like to give him some nice pictures. I will be shooting at about 5-5:30pm most likely at a park. So anything on posing or what to exspect or just about anthing would be great! Thanks

[valkabit]

I don't have much experience myself, but I've heard it said that you don't want to use a tripod, they move to fast.

[Joy82]

I have a 20 month old that I shoot a tons of photos of! 12 month olds usually aren't too hard to shoot because they can't run to fast. I'd bring a small tube of bubbles or some kind of stuffed animal to get there attention. Also, 12 month olds like sitting in little chairs. Good luck!

[theryaner]

agreed don't use a tripod

[Helen Bartlett]

I would recommend trying a different time of day - most one year olds are knackered by 5-5.30pm - it is time for dinner and bed. I find that first thing in the morning works much better, straight after breakfast ideally so you have a window of opportunity before the first nap of the day. Little ones get very tired quickly so expect to take breaks if you are going for a longer 'lifestyle' type session. I would ask parents to bring snacks, drinks and baby wipes!

I would use your 50mm lens and no tripod although if you are new to photographing children you might find a longer lens a bit easier as they do move around pretty quickly at that age (if they are walking?)

There are tons of pictures on my blog if you want ideas - it is a really fun age - just don't expect them to sit still - but much more fun if they are running around anyway.

Unless you are really lucky it wont go according to plan, photographing children rarely does, so keep your cool. Act as if the unexpected is just what you had planned for and go with the flow. If you keep calm and relaxed then the parents will and everyone will enjoy themselves. Sounds silly but I know when I first started I used to get worried if something went a bit wrong - child fell over and hurt themselves, or turned up in a bad mood or anything like that but now I just take it all in my stride and it relaxes the parents if that makes sense.

Have fun, photographing children is the best

[RDKirk]

So I was hoping someone out there could provide me with tips on shooting kids, in paticular a 1 year old. I have never shot kids before and im just doing it for a friend but I would like to give him some nice pictures. I will be shooting at about 5-5:30pm most likely at a park. So anything on posing or what to exspect or just about anthing would be great! Thanks

Here is the essential tip about photographing kids and dogs:

Children should be fed and rested, dogs should be hungry and tired.

I learned not long ago from an extremely successful commercial photographer who specializes in children (he does most of the Toys R Us ads) that using a tripod combined with a remote camera tripper is the secret of photographing small children.

He puts his camera on a tripod or stand with a medium telephoto lens and focuses on a particular spot. He puts a wireless tripper on the camera (he uses Pocket Wizards) and then gets close to the kid, but just out of camera view. He gets to within a meter to arm's reach, then he interacts directly with the child.

That works a minor miracle. Remember that children (and dogs) learn very early on to read the faces of adults--they interact primarily through facial expressions. When the photographer is jumping around with his face obscured by a camera, that presents the child (or a dog) with an entirely alien experience...and leads to frenetic restlessness.

But by getting out from behind the camera and getting close to the kid (and it works with dogs, too), this photographer has learned that the kid will stay in one spot and give him all the reactions and emotions he could want.

It struck me as obvious once I saw it work.

[burnxkr]

When shooting my kids now 2,5 and 7 I like the informal unusual capture. I'd get a load of toys, some bubbles and ask mom or dad to play with the child. Stick on a longer lens if you have one or loan one (I use my 70-200) and get as many candids as you can. Take your flash and just shoot away.

Get down low and enjoy.

You should get some nice portraits that aren't too staged.