How to Create Beautiful Child Portraits Without The Fuss

Children may be the most photographed but they could be the hardest subjects to deal with.  A child photographer specializing in doing child portraits could really have a tough time dealing with children or temper tantrums or those who are fidgety, wiggly, or running all over the place … as we all know they can 🙂

Professionally created child photos taken in a studio are very popular among parents.  There are even studios that offer themes and costumes for children to put on during the photo shoot.  As a result of this, professional child photographers come up with stunning child portraits that no parent could resist showing off (or buying).

Doing child portrait photography or child art photography is not an easy job.  Portrait photography is an art that requires not only the “eye” but also the technical expertise that comes with the job.  A professional photographer needs special technical know-how and training for a portrait photograph to come out good.  A good portrait is a result of the technical expertise of a photographer.

And when specializing in child portrait photography, a photographer should be prepared to deal with the different attitudes and moods of children during photo shoots.  And with this, it is very important that child photographers have an idea of child psychology and would need to have a lot of patience.

There are also parents who tend to hover around their children and are overly anxious during a photo shoot and this could be quite distracting and stressful.  So any photographer who wants to do children photography or baby photography must be prepared for this.  The exercise of utmost professionalism is also very important in handling not only the kids but also their parents.

So, for beautiful child portraits without the fuss, here are some tips to bear in mind:

• The innocence of children allows them natural expressions and looks that are priceless and could never be possible when they grow up.  This simplicity and beauty is what many child photographers want to capture with their cameras.  So it is important to never force a child into a pose.  Just let them be their natural, carefree, and uninhibited selves so just click away and capture every expression and angle possible.  Besides, with the advent of digital cameras, one need not worry of films that would be wasted.

• Understanding the person to be photographed allows a photographer to establish a connection and rapport with the subject.  And in the realm of baby photography and kids’ photography, these are important as little children tend to be a bit fidgety around strangers.  Being friendly with the subject can really help a lot during a photo shoot.

• It wouldn’t hurt to relax.  This goes for both the photographer and the parent.  If children sense some sort of tension, uneasiness, apprehension, or fretfulness, they often tend to be affected and get fidgety themselves.  Children can easily relax and be themselves if they are in a relaxed atmosphere.  And excellent photographs usually results if a photographer is relaxed, friendly, playful and engaging with the subject during the photo shoot.

• Whether a photo shoot is done in a studio, outdoors, or elsewhere, it is very important that the child or baby to be photographed is in a comfortable outfit.  This consideration in clothing is of utmost importance to ensure that the child is comfortable and relaxed for the photo shoot.  A child in a fancy fairy get-up or in a Batman costume would indeed look good on pictures but if it is uncomfortable to wear or would hamper the natural movement of the child, better do away with it.  Costumes or clothes that make children ill at ease would adversely affect the mood and the disposition of a child and this will clearly show on the photographs.

It is very important that a child portrait reflect the uniqueness of the subject.  The photograph or portrait should speak for itself.  Though children photography can get quite tricky, a good, sensitive, and creative professional child photographer can certainly pull it through.  With experience and expertise, the insights that a child photographer gain with every photo session are invaluable gems that can be applied to hone one’s craft and art.

..stay focussed,

Ray Baker