Spring is in full swing (finally!) and we’re all starting to spend a lot more time outdoors with our families. Parents may be feeling inspired to bring their cameras along for a trip to the park or around town. With that in mind, we asked Heidi Green—one of New York City’s most loved and sought-after family photographers—for her advice on taking beautiful, natural-looking family photos. And for those with slightly older kids, our resident photography lover (admittedly a color film fanatic) Associate Editor Kat Harrison whipped up some outdoor projects for a point-and-shoot session. —
Heidi Green’s Top 10 Tips On Photographing Children
1. Know your subject. Choose a location where your child feels comfortable and at ease. If your child loves to run, photograph her in the park. If he loves to curl up at home and read his favorite book, use storytime as your setting.
2. Use natural light. A flash can frighten babies and young children, add harsh shadows and produce red eye. Try to use natural light, preferably sunlight, when possible.
3. Focus on the eyes. A sharp, tight shot of your child’s eyes is like looking into their soul. Keep it smart and simple.
4. Get down low with your child. The photos taken from their level and perspective will be more unique and personal than those taken from up above.
5. Fill the whole frame. Don’t be afraid to get up close with your subject. But more active kids may be tough to capture, so keep your distance and use a zoom lens for the same effect.
6. Experiment with compositions and angles. You can get a little artsy by focusing in on different body parts: hands, ears, lips, belly buttons, etc. Have fun with it!
7. Take tons of photos. Don’t be too concerned about getting that one “perfect shot.” If you’re patient and relaxed, there will always be some great options to choose from.
8. Include other people and family pets. Sometimes it’s a good idea to include your child’s favorite doll, ball or toy in the photo—or even the family cat or dog. Use something you associate with your child for when you look back on the photos in the future.
9. Choose non-distracting backgrounds. Some of the most picturesque settings are wide, green fields and well-lit rooms with simple walls and floors. If something in the background doesn’t add to the photo, remove it so that the subject remains the focus.
10. Be playful so that your child has fun. Make sure to engage with and capture your child doing something fun like running, jumping, swimming, laughing, or playing with favorite toys. Even simple activities like coloring, watching a favorite movie, eating or sleeping can produce beautiful, intimate photos. When you connect with the child, it makes a world of difference in the final product.
If all else fails…you know where to find me: heidigreen.com
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New York Family’s 5 Ideas For Fresh (Kid-Driven) Photography
1. See It My Way: Photography is all about perspective, as an artist and as a viewer. Have your child choose an object, like a park bench, and shoot it from 9 different angles. Now try a bike. Together, you can discuss which images abstract the objects most and which images show the “true” qualities.
2. Letter Art: We have to credit Rookie Moms for this photographic brilliance. Challenge your child to find the ABCs among the cityscape, be it an intricate gate or a fruit stand find. Tailor the projects to the artist’s spelling capabilities—capturing simple words like “fly” to compound words like “extraordinary” in the everyday objects among us.
3. Urbanity: Turn a street artist’s tag into a glossy collage of 3x5s. Kids can focus on text-only graffiti or can snap pictures of spray paint sketches. (Bonus: This project is the perfect excuse for exploring new neighborhoods, like the Lower East Side’s Latino “hood”—Loisaida.)
4. Flora, Flora: Choose a park (preferably one with a decent amount of blooms, like The Highline or Central Park’s Rose Garden) and have your child explore the ground’s flowers. Let this be an exercise in zooming—allowing some photographs to be close-up, while others can take on a traditional (and zoomed-out) landscape view.
5. Narrative Nancy: This is a lesson in documentary-style photography. Before leaving the house, have the photographer-at-large write a short narrative detailing their typical day: coffee shop stops, subway routes, errands, visits with friends, window shopping, people you meet on the street, etc. Then spend the rest of the morning/afternoon, cataloging these adventures through the lens to accompany the text. (Extra Credit: Experiment with black & white film!)
