I get asked this question all the time: how to take better photos of kids? I see how frustrated my clients get trying to take photos of their kids but ending up with blurry, badly-lit images that end up sitting forgotten on their camera rolls.

Taking photos while we’re all safe (not stuck!) at home may not be high on your priority list right now. To be honest, I debated about this mini-blog project for the whole of last week because I wasn’t sure it was “necessary” right now. But here’s what I know for sure:

when you’re in a hard season, taking photos can force you to look for the joy.

Snapping a few pics throughout the day when things feel messy can help you look back at the end of each (long, long) one and smile at the magic that happened before your eyes. So, while we’re in unprecedented times of stress and unknown, we’re also incredibly lucky to have the technology and time at our fingertips to document our days. It’s the perfect time to slow down to appreciate all the quirky little things your kids do and put some of these tips into practice. My hope is that when we’re on the other side of this, you’ll have a perfectly imperfect record of all the positive things that happened during “the pandemic of 2020” to look back on.

In this mini blog series, I’ll be sharing simple tips for taking better photos of your kids (on your iPhone, no DSLR required unless you want to get that out and finally learn how). You’ll learn how I edit quickly on my phone and some additional apps I love playing with along the way. I also have a few ideas for getting your photos organised as well as OFF your computer and UP on your walls to enjoy. So I hope you’ll follow along and enjoy the freebies sprinkled in along the way. Also, follow me on Instagram (@christine_w_photography) and let me know how you’re doing by tagging me in your photos on Instagram (#ChristineW)

It’s all about the light

It’s the first tip any photographer will give you. Sure, professional equipment and years of knowledge will obviously result in high-quality images that make it to billboards etc. But if you’re just looking to take better photos of your kids while you’re hanging out at home, hone in on the light.

If you’ve got a specific idea in mind or want more “posed” images of your kids, firstly, gather up all the patience you have in the world because they will likely not listen to you or cooperate as you expect them to. But secondly, set things up where there’s the most natural light. Move a sensory table next to the window or set up cookie mixing in a different part of the kitchen to get the most light in. You don’t want them in direct sunlight but you do want as much natural light to be falling on them as possible.

To make the most of candid shots of them doing fun things inside, turn off overhead “yellow” light and move out of anywhere that is high contrast with lots of shadows. Ideally, you want to be outside in the open shade but until the weather warms up, we have to work with what we’ve got.

Top Tip:

Open up your camera and move around with it on you in selfie mode. This will give you an idea of where the best light is in your home and you’ll be able to see where best to set things up for capturing sweet moments of your kids.

Other things to consider trying:

Get down to their level or lower. 

This is a super simple tip that even I often forget when taking photos of my own kids. Getting down to their level will help you get a better focus on their eyes, and also avoid you having a bunch of photos that are cute but always them looking up at you. A good example of this is kneeling at the base of your bed while they are on it.

Beware of the background. 

I’m all for adding an element of “real” to your photos of your little sweethearts because what is an image if not to capture what life was like. But if you’re looking to level up a little for printing and display purposes, consider what’s in the background of your image. Simply moving things out the way or placing yourself in front of a clear/plain background can give your images an immediate boost.

Be patient and welcome the blur.

Especially important if you have a specific idea in mind, patience and practice play a huge role in getting great images of kids. Work with them and the time of day that they seem to be in their best spirits. If everything is set up and ready to go ahead of time, you can take multiple images when the mood strikes. I always suggest clicking a good couple of times so you have a selection of images to choose from to import for editing. Blur is inevitable with babies so be patient!