Just curious about your children photography

How many of you find it challenging ? How many find it naturally easy ? How many can't get enough of it ? How many honestly do it just for the money ? What are your favorite children events to shoot ? And what is your favorite age group to shoot ?

I love shooting 6 month to 1 year olds! They are so fun, and just getting really mobile.
I only find newborns and toddlers challenging.
I love it! kids are so innocent and natural, that it makes it such a joy to shoot

I find shooting children naturally easy and can't get enough of it. Now that I'm semi retired and my grandchildren are older, I don't get to do it as much, but when I was shooting in a studio 5 days a week, I loved every minute of it. One caveat to that is children 14-22 months. That is THE worst age and the only age I found to be a challenge. At 14 months, they are newly mobile and all over the place, often still have a tinge of stranger anxiety, and think pigs can fly, so nothing I do that amuses older kids will impress them. Even 2 months makes a huge difference, and a 24 month old begins to become putty in my hands again. Especially girls. My favorite age is 6-9 months as they can sit up, and will smile at anything. I love shooting kids!

I love certain ages . . . I'll be honest, some are just tough! I love, love newborns- very challenging, but love them nonetheless. 6-9 months- wonderful! They can sit up, usually smile a lot, still fit into cute baskest, etc. From about 1yr until 3yr- well, I could do without ever shooting another and I'd be happy, LOL. Then, by 3 they are Ok again. I have kids myself, and getting down on their level (literally) is something I truly enjoy.

If i try to get them to pose, it doesn't work. I let them be natural, play around, smile and laugh...then that's when I start shooting.

I am just a "Mommy Photographer", but for the most part love shooting my kids! I find all ages difficult at times. I would say newborn is probably the most difficult for me. I tend to have an idea in my head of what I want, but rarely am able to achieve it. I love the 6 months to a year, they smile and laugh at anything and can't get away too fast.

I'd rather photograph babies & children over adults ! I have given up weddings to just be a child photographer !

Love Love newborn then about 6-8 months then Ahhhhhh they won't sit for you my son is 22 months and all i can get now is the back of his head

This thread is so timely! I will be taking photos of a2yr old boy at the playpark down at the waterfront. I want to capture action and color and shear happiness. Q) what are your favorite lenses to capture young children at play?

crazydays wrote in post #10482531
This thread is so timely! I will be taking photos of a2yr old boy at the playpark down at the waterfront. I want to capture action and color and shear happiness. Q) what are your favorite lenses to capture young children at play?

70-200

Babies are easy...once they get moving and into everything, you can about give up, LOL. Or....give them the hose.
My fave lenses are the 135 or the 24-70.

They start liking the camera again at about age 8.

crazydays wrote in post #10482531
This thread is so timely! I will be taking photos of a2yr old boy at the playpark down at the waterfront. I want to capture action and color and shear happiness. Q) what are your favorite lenses to capture young children at play?

Definitely 70-200 Its just gives you the reach cause they're fast little creatures and then also the speed and then every now and then you can get some good bokeh NOT creamy,but decent.

I find shooting my almost 2 yr really hard now. He will run so fast to me when he sees the camera. It was so much easier when he was much younger. Wish I took more shots at that time. I am hoping it does improve as he gets older.

Lens wise I have tried 70-200mm f2.8 and even 300mm f2.8 but my favourites right now are 135mm f2 and sigma 30mm f1.4.

For my one year old, I'm using my 5D, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, and 580EX most of the time. For my four year old, I'm using the same gear unless I'm outside where I may switch to the 70-200 f/4 or my 40D and the 28-75mm. I don't use my primes much right now as I can't foot-zoom quickly enough.

I am planning the 70-200mm for most of the shots. I will bring my lenses with me and try out several if I can. I would like to try the 50mm on the 5d but for this purpose not sure re focus
speed-last thing I need is OOF. Kids are fast- I will set up the continuous to get the little guy going down slide etc. I have lost a bit of confidence re color of 25-78mm Tamron.-Fast lens but I find colors cooler-it is personal preference. Because of its sharpness I will use it for some pics and then compare it post process. Great thing about shooting outdoor is the space. I will be able to shoot at a distance from the little guy with the 70-200...