Capturing a small child with digital delay

[MayBayB]

To get that perfect smile even with the delay of a digital camera... Try to snap the picture just as the child starts to smile, by the time there is a full smile, you will have captured the picture. The key is to get the child to smile & watch how he/she reacts & how the smiles rises & falls. If the child has high cheekbones the subject will look like they are squinting. Wait till the smile is at its peek & snap the picture, by the time the camera catches up to your click you will have captured the smile at just the right time to be able to see all of the eyes. Another tip....have the subject look just to the top or beside the lens...looking right into the lens creates the "red eye" effect. The flash or high light source will reflect off the iris of the eye, creating the "red eye", when looking directly into the lens. By looking atop or next to the lens the subject will appear to be looking at the camera, without the "red eye". I hold a stuffed frog right next to the lens & ask my subjects to "smile at the froggie". It makes the subjects laugh & look where I want the eyes to point, usually creating a beautiful portrait.

[JulieM]

Thank you for your tips!

[Bayla]

As someone who is frequently photographing children that is a very useful piece of information! Thanks

Bayla

[lexcell]

Excellent advice on photographing children. I particularly like the advice about using a small stuffed animal or something similar to direct where you want the child to look.

I also shoot in continuous advance mode and shoot a sequence of shots which not only captures the peak of a smile, it gives me several shots to choose from. This is even more effective with adults. They hear that first click and they relax and a more natural smile appears which I then capture with each subsequent click.

[MayBayB]

I have photographed over 800 sittings in the last couple of months for the holidays. I have learned sooo much from the sittings. What I do is talk to Mom & Dad 1st to find out what makes the child laugh. Then I talk to the child & get them to smile. I take this time to observe the smile & gauge how much time I have to take the shot. I don't take long doing this process...I was usually scheduled for a sitting every half hour. For the stuffed animal.. with small children I take the frog to them & then pull it slowly away from them to the lens..it helps to direct them to watch the frog to the point where it is next to the lens. There are times too, where I have sat the frog on my head to get them to look & laugh at just the right time.

I have also found for subjects that tend to blink when the light flashes to have them close their eyes for a second or two prior to snapping the picture. It will keep them from blinking so quickly. It also produces the relaxed natural smile. This works well for the younger child to teenager that does the false forced looking smile.

For the toddler that likes to point to everything you have in your hands, try giving them something to hold. I particularly like to give them a book to read. Usually the first thing they do is open the book, this a cute shot esp. for the little one who likes to read.

What other "tricks" or techniques does anyone else have to share?

[lexcell]

Excellent tips MayBay. Thanks for sharing them.

[MayBayB]

I've got another tip to share. Get down on the child's level. Shoot the picture from their level. If the baby is sleeping in it's crib, get on your knees next to it & take the shot. Try different camera angles too. Tilt the camera slightly to create a little tension. Lay on the floor & shoot up at the child. Try a "birdseye" by getting above child & shoot downward.

[MayBayB]

Anyone work with subjects who wear glasses? I am looking for tips to help reduce or eliminate glare.

[Bayla]

May,

Take a look at THIS THREAD. Some good suggestions there.

Bayla

[efarnstrom]

Originally Posted by MayBayB

Anyone work with subjects who wear glasses? I am looking for tips to help reduce or eliminate glare.

Once I read one of Wendy's tips: Just have the person with glasses reach behind the ear and tip the glasses just a little. I haven't tried it personally to test it out, but it seems like it would work.

Thanks for the other tips you have here.