I don’t take indoor photos of my daughter during the summer months. I didn’t realize my habit until I viewed albums featuring seasonal shots of my child, and noticed that every single one was taken in the great outdoors.
When the weather is nice, forget about posing your child in a sterile indoor studio in front of boring props. Instead, opt for a session snapped outside with Mother Nature’s bounty in full view. The venue, be it your backyard, garden or a neighborhood park, allows young subjects the chance to act as natural as possible. The familiar setting also gives kids a chance to relax and be themselves, which always benefits the photographer.
Of course, with so much to explore, you need to act fast if you want to snap super shots of kids outside. In addition, be careful of what you are recording in your viewfinder. You don’t want to press the shutter button when your son or daughter is standing in front of an area filled with distracting clutter. Rather, wait to record a shot when your child is in an open field or surrounded by photogenic items, such as flowers or grass. If you can’t lure your child away from a cluttered background, then use your camera’s zoom to capture close ups of his face or walk up to him and fill as much of the frame as possible with his body.
Another tip to consider is to apply the rule of thirds. Don’t be afraid to place your child slightly off-center to create a more interesting composition. This is especially important to consider when you are shooting outdoors. By adding some of the background in the shot, you can tell a more compelling story with your images.
Finally, it’s summer and the living is easy. Give your child the chance to roam instead of pose for the camera. Practicing patience and allowing the child to warm up to the idea that he is being documented, will result in frame worthy pictures. Candid shots really capture a child’s true personality. If you are photographing a shy child in the great outdoors, simply wait until he is engrossed in an activity and snap away.
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