Photographing Children 101

I took an awesome community class this summer on photographing children. Every week, my teacher would have to correct himself at least ten times when he would say things like, "Now, when you're shooting kids..." Yesterday was our last class session and I was supposed to come prepared with some pictures I had taken. It was quite a struggle to get them done.

First of all, as much as Jake and I would both love a digital SLR camera (where you can adjust the aperture and focus), we have a point-and-shoot. It never bothered me too much before, but now that I know a little more about taking pictures I was so frustrated that I couldn't blur the background enough, that my flash is pretty low-quality, that my focal point won't move, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

The second reason it was so tough for me was because the weather has been terrible! Well, only terrible in that a five-month-old baby (who can do nothing but lay on the grass) would end up wet and muddy if we were to take pictures outside. So I had to stage some inside shots (which are almost never as good). Luckily I could avoid using the flash as long as I put him right next to the window.

So I took all the pictures yesterday. We did actually get a few outside during the five minutes of sunshine in the early afternoon. Grant did such a good job! He likes to pose for the camera. I like candid shots, but those were hard to get with him because he wanted to stare at the shiny silver camera all the time. Well, I tried to get him interested in other things, and usually it worked for at least 30 seconds.

Since I don't have an SLR, I had to make up for it by using a little Photoshop here and there. Mostly, I just made the color a little less flat and used the blur options to make his eyes stand out more. Basically, I tried to keep them like they would have been had I used a better camera.

Between taking a couple hundred pictures and photoshopping the best ones, it took me ALL DAY! I was finished just in time to brush my teeth, comb my hair, and race out the door. I don't know why, but I was incredibly nervous about having my pictures critiqued. Of course, mine ended up being last (so my stomach was in knots for hours) but to my surprise, they actually liked them! They understood my camera and lighting limitations, but they liked the artistic poses. Truly, it was luck. If you take enough shots, you are bound to end up with something! I got some good feedback about how I could make them even better (like cropping them smaller or removing distracting toys) in Photoshop. I haven't had time to fix them yet, so I'm posting the originals.

Anyway, here they are! Lots of fun, work, and stress, and definitely a great learning experience. Whew!

The first three were not Photoshopped, but I think they have potential.

This next one reminds me of a cute little puppy. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was crawling!
Here we go with the critiqued shots. One guy said he didn't like the foot by Grant's mouth, but the teacher loved it because it "captures what babies do." Yep, he certainly does this a lot. In fact, this morning he finally got his toes in his mouth for the first time. I think his tummy is getting smaller, which makes it easier to fold in half...

The teacher said (and I agree) that the finger in this one is a little too close to the top of the photo, which causes tension that doesn't need to be there. He loved the action, though. I was surprised to find that this shot turned out because I was pulling his thumb out almost immediately after seeing it in his mouth.

This one was taken from above him while he was laying in the recliner. His hand is blurry because my camera isn't great at stopping action, but I like the blanket. Pretty much since birth, Grant has constantly pulled square things over his head: blankets, napkins, pillows, burp rags. Luckily I got this shot before it went over his face.

My rule of thirds was killing me in this picture. I think I should have cut off more at the top, I think. What I like about this one is the grass in front of the camera--and yes, he is eating it.

I (and everyone in the class) thought there needed to be more light on his face since his legs are so bright. It did turn out pretty dark. He looks cute, though, right?!

This last one is one of my personal favorites. It didn't pass the critiques as well as the others because it is blurry (especially on a huge projection screen), but I still love it!

I am so glad I took this class, because I learned a ton. It takes a lot more work, persistence, and experience than I thought it would. Oh, and having a child you think is adorable helps, too! Yay for community classes!