Every photographer wants to get happy, exciting photos of children. Kids are such stimulating subjects, with their constant movements and wild expressions. But while it is enjoyable to watch them play and run, once you turn the camera towards their direction, most children will hide their faces or lose their natural emotions. What should you do to keep the magic from disappearing, then?
 
Children photography is different from other forms of photography. For one, you are shooting somebody who gets bored very easily. You will only have a minute or less to capture that perfect expression. You can’t spend hours directing them or telling them what to do. You also can’t persuade them to do the things you want. It takes a balance of patience and luck to get the perfect photograph.
 
You also have to think of the child. They may get intimidated from your camera gear, so don’t bring too many large and distracting things. You need to make sure that the child is at ease with you and your camera. Talk to the child and make them comfortable around you. Don’t ask them to pose too much; give them freedom to do whatever they like. Also, give them props such as their favorite toy or an interesting object. This will usually make them forget that there is a camera trained on their face, allowing them to be natural in front of the lens.
 
While taking the photograph, get down on your knees. It is best to get an eye level photo, so that it looks more personal. You can even take candid photos; this way you don’t have to constantly ask the child to look at your camera. Be creative in the ways you distract them. Kids photography requires you to think out of the box.
 
Some days your subject can be unwilling or difficult to work with. Give them a short break, or if it is no cost, allow yourself to postpone the shoot for some other day. If the shoot is no longer enjoyable for the child, you won’t be getting any good photos of the kid anytime soon.
 
You will learn that shooting a child is a new learning experience, every single time. Getting that perfect photo that really gets a child’s essence is something priceless. This may not be the easiest form of photography, but it can be very fun, for both you and the child.