How to Photograph Your Children

Otherwise known as that time I met Anne Geddes.

And I cried in front of Anne Geddes.

And she took a picture with me and hugged me.

And then I tried not to cry again.

Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who was excited to meet Anne!

Credit: Janice Croze for Blogger Bash 

I have to admit the highlight of Blogger Bash was meeting that wonderful woman and having the opportunity to hear her speak about photography and her life. There were a ton of sound bites. Like when she was askedf what her prized possession was and she answered “My imagination.”

Yeah, let that one sink in for a minute.

Amazing right?

Anne then spoke about her photographer (she started at the age of 25) and how she comes up with her brilliant ideas. But the part that struck home to me the most was when she asked how to photograph children. Everything she said is everything I strive to do not only with my clients but my own children.

How to Photograph Children According to Anne Geddes

1. Get down on their level. If they are crawling, get down and crawl along with them. If you expect an 18 month year old to look up at you and your camera, you are out of your mind. Sit on the ground and shoot them straight on.

2. Watch your background. You want to keep it simple so your child really stands out. Scan your background and look for tree limbs coming out of their head and also any trash cans that might be hanging out back there.

3. Shoot in the morning. We all know the later in the day we get, the more cranky our children become. But they sure are chipper in the morning (even at 6 am, I don’t know who these children are but they aren’t mine!).

4. Let them be little. Who cares if they have mismatched socks or their lovey in their hands? Instead of forcing them to sit still and wear something they don’t like, capture them being them. At that age. In the moment. Over the years, you will cherish looking back on their raggedy blanket that they had to take everywhere with them. And they will too.

5. Get in the picture. This is one that I don’t follow enough. I need to force myself to get in the picture with the kids more often. Anne made a great point. They won’t remember what you were like when you were young. And who doesn’t like looking back at pictures of their parents when they were younger and laughing at their hair and clothes? Would you deny your children that enjoyment in the future?