6 Smartphone-Only Tips for Photos of Kids

A smartphone, now permanently in our hand or at least in our pocket, gives us the ability to capture our most treasured moments with children before they grow up. However, kids are extremely active – whether they're playing hide-and-seek or just running around the house, they can be challenging to capture on camera. Motion naturally makes mobile photography more difficult. Here are six tips for mobile photographers who love taking pictures of children.

1. Be Prepared for Candid Shots

Photographing children can be challenging, but some of the best mobile photographs you capture will be candid shots. Kids can be unpredictable, so be prepared to shoot on a whim. Burst Mode is ideal for situations involving children – this will allow you to take multiple shots within seconds. Afterward, you can eliminate the blurry, unwanted images.

2. Shoot at Their Level

Kids are small, meaning it can be difficult to capture them at the right angle if you're standing up as an adult. Get down to their level, it's easy with a smartphone – sit on the ground or lay on the floor with them during your mobile photography sessions. This will help people see the kids through their eyes when they view your photos.

3. Focus on the Eyes of Your Subject

Focusing on the eyes of the child or children you're photographing can help you capture the emotion of the moment. Doing so can also help you engage the viewers of your mobile photography.

4. Use Smartphone Apps for Editing

Apps, such as Enlight, can help you eliminate any flaws you may find in your mobile photography. Enlight also has a wide range of filters that will give your photos the perfect touch, whether you want to add more light or create a vintage feel. Besides filters, you can use tools like Heal and Patch to "clean" kids up – easily remove signs of that chocolate ice cream treat or a scrape from a recent fall at the park.

5. Go with Simplicity

The pure joy of children can be enough to carry emotion in your mobile photography. Don't worry about background or other elements that could be distracting to your subject matter. Instead, look to the kids themselves to bring life and motion to the images. Keep in mind that they don't necessarily need to be posing to make an ideal photo.

6. Try New Angles

Kids are supposed to bring fun to mind, and a smartphone isn't at all bulky, so why not try out new angles? Whether you shoot from above, off-center, or from afar, doing so can add a bit of uniqueness to your mobile photography. For example, taking an image from below while a child is climbing monkey bars can make him or her look "on top of the world."

Don't forget the basics while taking photos of kids as well. For instance, ample lighting is essential for reducing the chances of blur showing up in your mobile photography. When possible, try to use natural lighting. Finally, try your best to keep your hand steady as you snap your pictures. A tripod can give you the best chance at capturing images without a high risk of blur due to motion.

Written by Krystle Vermes.

Comments

comments

Article Tags

Tags: child photography, child portraits, children photography, childrens portraits, enlight, enlight app, enlight leak, iphoneography, mobile photography, portrait iphoneography, portrait photography, smartphone, smartphone photography Krystle Vermes

Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in online and print journalism. Passions include everything tech, sports, and the paranormal. When she isn't freelance reporting, she's running her paranormal blog, GetSpooked.net. Krystle is a graduate of Suffolk University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Print Journalism.

Source: 6 Smartphone-Only Tips for Photos of Kids