Photographing Children - Looking for advice

**Paul** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 15:37

On Saturday, i've got my first nearly full day shoot with 9 different children and sittings at various times during the day.

I'm confident i'm prepared but just in case anyone has any last minute advice (don't want to hear "never work with children and animals" though)

.

I'll be using my new 6x7 hi-lite with train and going for venture style shots or trying to get them anyway. I've done oodles of research and have been accumulating a good stock of cute and very colourful apparel and props including some funky knitted hats from Nepal and other bright and colourful items.

I'll have other backdrops there just in case but i'll be focusing on the hi-key stuff as I just love that style of photography.

I'm planning on having fun with the kids first and be a bit of a clown to get them on my side, show them the camera and explain what's going on and let them take a picture or two so the whole experience is a good fun one for them.

If anyone has good experience in this field and has any killer tips, i'm all ears

I think i'm prepared to a comfortable degree but I know i'll never be prepared enough when kids are involved

**carregwen** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 18:20

I know it goes without saying, Paul, but if I were shooting children, I would always ensure that there was at least one other adult in the studio/location. It's a sad state of affairs, but you can't be too careful these days. That's the way we live now.

**genese** · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 21:59

i tend to do that with everyone rob just to cover myself ... tell them to bring a mate unless we are doing nudes and i put the spare person in another room..
paul as you already know the best portraits are relaxed ones, are you looking for action shots or are these images for mum and dads wall ?
ive done quite a few i tend to go with
vunerable
cute
funny
bouncy
animal
dress up
and then a shouting shot ... shouting something mad like ( funny bananas )
i just make it into a game ... the kids love it cos they can pretend and go mad
http://www.fotothing.com/photos/e85/...ee84d4e6bf.jpg
thats one from the mad dancing like a loon shoot on the balcony
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...91dbc6d313e39/
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...a7f7cf95c8014/http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...950f9fb72baa2/
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...36d2664ca132a/

**Dennyboy** · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 22:16

some nice shots there Genese

**Paul** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by carregwen

I know it goes without saying, Paul, but if I were shooting children, I would always ensure that there was at least one other adult in the studio/location. It's a sad state of affairs, but you can't be too careful these days. That's the way we live now.

It is mate but all those things are covered and there will always be at least one parent there as i'll need their help anyway to control things a little

Quote:

Originally Posted by genese

i tend to do that with everyone rob just to cover myself ... tell them to bring a mate unless we are doing nudes and i put the spare person in another room..
paul as you already know the best portraits are relaxed ones, are you looking for action shots or are these images for mum and dads wall ?
ive done quite a few i tend to go with
vunerable
cute
funny
bouncy
animal
dress up
and then a shouting shot ... shouting something mad like ( funny bananas )
i just make it into a game ... the kids love it cos they can pretend and go mad
http://www.fotothing.com/photos/e85/...ee84d4e6bf.jpg
thats one from the mad dancing like a loon shoot on the balcony
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...91dbc6d313e39/
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...a7f7cf95c8014/http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...950f9fb72baa2/
http://www.fotothing.com/genese/phot...36d2664ca132a/

I'm going for a complete non posed approached kind of venture style and relaxed and natural is my goal for each shoot. The day is a bit of a test day for me to try out my new founded knowledge of photographing in this style and also to test out my new hi-lite kit. There are 9 kids, one of them is mine

and three families that are friends and family who are bringing along the other 8 monsters

I'll be doing family shots too which will be fun.

It'll all be neutral colours and shoes and socks off to help me get the best natural shoots I can get.

Great tips, thanks Genese. I've got a pack of those "ball pit" coloured balls and i've seen a video on youtube and the tog had one of these balls stuck to a baseball cap and asked the kid to have some fun throwing the other balls at him, that should break the ice a little and I may try that on Sat followed by your shouting suggestion. I can see that would be fun for the kids too.

Of the all the research i've done, it seems the key is through play and games and then their like putty in your hands. I'm a big kid at heart so that should be quite easy

Thanks for posting the links too, nice pics

Bouncy as you've suggested is also something I'll be having fun with and i've read somewhere that putting a sticker on a seat or in the middle of the train and telling the child to sit on it and make sure mum or dad can't see it works a treat if you want them to stay in one place and again, make a game out of it.

I've got a feeling I'm going to be worn out by the end of the day lol

**Eos1nrs** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2008, 12:54

Hi Paul

sorry mate not being in contact, been doing lots of hours at home to catch up with work...

From my point of view, the things that help me most of all are knowledge of my clients....i could go on for hours but try this bite size list

*I always know their names/details etc and try to use these to break the ice..i always ask the older child(if you have more than 1) if they want to change their name, something sad and funny normally works...dont get mad F18 but Dave normally elicits serious laughter.....

During sessions i do some of the following;

*work the ages, ask questions bout their birthdays, what parties they have etc, poking fun as i go
*where they go to school, poke fun at teachers
*favourite toys at home
*tv programs they watch
*make daft noises, get them repeating you and chuck something really funny in there

All these work very well for me...i tailor them to suit different ages, the older they get, the more i talk to them rather than making them laugh

*football teams are always a good one, if they like Arsenal, get them shouting spurs etc..

*the younger they are, the less likely they are to sit still. use this. make them think that what they are doing is what you want them to..shortly you will have them standing/sitting still for a few secs, TAKE THE SHOT!!!!

*Most importantly, don't introduce props unless you want them specially for a type of shot..once stuff comes in, its hard to get out esp if they are young..use them as a last resort..

I always have all the family in with me during the shoot so that's never a problem for me, play music in the background...i use high school musical 2. its light, fun, easy to dance to and all the girls know it so that's an icebreaker...

By the time even the shy ones leave, i am generally everyone's best friend..even the dogs!!!

If you get family members trying to help out, make sure only one talks to them and get them to stand/sit next to you, that way the kids will generally be looking in your direction

Sorry for the essay, its as short as i can make it!!!! lol

feel free to buzz me, mail me anytime you need to mate, All the time in the world for you buddy

take care and have fun, you wont need luck..it'll just happen..

**genese** · #7 (**permalink**) 04-12-2008, 20:07

no problems and thanks denny and paul ..
great tips there andy
funs the answer

Tco · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 07:44

Paul I shoot loads of kids and I can only second what Andy has said mate.

**Paul** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eos1nrs

Hi Paul

sorry mate not being in contact, been doing lots of hours at home to catch up with work...

From my point of view, the things that help me most of all are knowledge of my clients....i could go on for hours but try this bite size list

*I always know their names/details etc and try to use these to break the ice..i always ask the older child(if you have more than 1) if they want to change their name, something sad and funny normally works...dont get mad F18 but Dave normally elicits serious laughter.....

During sessions i do some of the following;

*work the ages, ask questions bout their birthdays, what parties they have etc, poking fun as i go
*where they go to school, poke fun at teachers
*favourite toys at home
*tv programs they watch
*make daft noises, get them repeating you and chuck something really funny in there

All these work very well for me...i tailor them to suit different ages, the older they get, the more i talk to them rather than making them laugh

*football teams are always a good one, if they like Arsenal, get them shouting spurs etc..

*the younger they are, the less likely they are to sit still. use this. make them think that what they are doing is what you want them to..shortly you will have them standing/sitting still for a few secs, TAKE THE SHOT!!!!

*Most importantly, don't introduce props unless you want them specially for a type of shot..once stuff comes in, its hard to get out esp if they are young..use them as a last resort..

I always have all the family in with me during the shoot so that's never a problem for me, play music in the background...i use high school musical 2. its light, fun, easy to dance to and all the girls know it so that's an icebreaker...

By the time even the shy ones leave, i am generally everyone's best friend..even the dogs!!!

If you get family members trying to help out, make sure only one talks to them and get them to stand/sit next to you, that way the kids will generally be looking in your direction

Sorry for the essay, its as short as i can make it!!!! lol

feel free to buzz me, mail me anytime you need to mate, All the time in the world for you buddy

take care and have fun, you wont need luck..it'll just happen..

Phew what can I say mate, thanks for taking the time to type the essay

Now how am I going to remember all of that lol

Cheers mate, i've got lots to absorb there and i've memorised the "props last" bit. I was going to start with props and I can see why that would be a bad idea.

I was wondering about music playing so i'll have to try and get something portable in time for tomorrow.

I'll have to read your advice again and again so some of it sinks in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tco

Paul I shoot loads of kids and I can only second what Andy has said mate.

The confirmation speaks volumes mate, thanks.