how to master candid kids photography
I went to Calderglen park with a dear friend called Roxanna. She has two beautiful little kids - an energetic, kind 4-year-old son and a shy 1-year-old daughter. We were just hanging out and I brought my camera with me to take some lovely photos of her babies.
At first, I was struggling a little bit with my focus - kids are constantly moving, looking at different things and their attention can shift in a split second. To combat this, I decided to use continuous eye autofocus on my Lumix S5 and snap as many photos as I can. I also kept my aperture open to get the lovely, creamy bokeh in the backgrounds, only stopping down for photos with all of them in. The result was beautiful photos that show her little ones’ personalities without bothering them or forcing them to pose in certain ways.
Allowing children to express themselves naturally during a photoshoot is crucial for capturing their genuine personalities. When interruptions occur, or when children are directed to pose in specific ways, it often disrupts their flow, leading to forced expressions and a lack of authentic smiles. Kids are most photogenic when they are free to engage with their surroundings and each other, unencumbered by adult expectations. Documenting these real moments not only results in more joyful and candid photographs but also preserves the essence of their childhood, making the memories all the more precious.
Candid photography of children thrives on authentic interactions, where the key is to engage playfully with them. By pulling funny faces, mimicking their laughter, and moving alongside them as they explore their surroundings, you can capture those genuine moments that reflect their true nature. Following their spontaneous actions, whether they are bounding across a park or curiously examining a flower, ensures that the photos resonate with their energy and curiosity.
When capturing photos of parents with their kids, it’s a similar tactic. Don’t force things, instead gently guide mum or dad to interact with their little ones in different ways or vice versa. These are some of my favourite prompts for kids who are old enough to understand:
Give mum a kiss on the cheek!
Tell mum a secret!
What’s a funny word?
By prompting, you aren’t forcing anything to happen. You are still capturing the candid moment which happens while the kids are following your instructions. As a photographer, one of the most important things we have to remember is that we are the professionals and we are in control. In order to provide a comfortable, professional service to our clients, we need to be confident in our capabilities and our interactions with them.
A great way to practice kids photography is with friends - that way you aren’t throwing yourself in the deep end with people you don’t know, but gently easing yourself into it and it’s a fantastic way to practice how you are with children and you can even ask advice from your friends on how to interact with their little ones!
