Welcome back! We hope that you found a few tips from Part I of our series on amping up your kid’s portraits and will find a few of these tips useful as well. So, here we go:

Tip #7: Off to the Side

While centering is considered a “no-no” when it comes to photography composition (unless you’re breaking the rules), the same goes for putting your subject off to the side. However, it can lead to fun, whimsical kid’s portraits – either looking into the frame or looking right at the camera.

Tip #8: Use props

When your kid’s portrait photos start to feel a bit blah, add props! Whether a scarf or hat, toy or something else, props can add color, texture, and interest to your child portraits in order to take them to the next level.

Tip #9: Go Somewhere New

You’re probably used to the same parks, the same paths, and your photos are starting to show a bit of “sameness” – so go somewhere new! Pick a new park, find a fun beach, or play tourist for a weekend. Better yet, plan an excursion over the weekend to somewhere none of you have been before, it will help you get out of your rut.

Tip #10: Blur!!

We get so focused on having perfectly crisp photos that we forget the fun of playing with blur. Whether it’s your child that’s blurred or their surroundings, you can have a lot of fun by choosing a slightly longer shutter speed to see what happens. Here are a few suggestions:

• Going down the slide
• On a swing
• Standing (safely) near a busy road
• On a bike, cruising by
• Standing on a train platform

Remember, you don’t want the entire photo to be blurry – either your background should be crisp or your subject.

Tip #11: Change it Up

Again, it’s time to get out of your comfort zone to create new and interesting children’s portraits. If you typically shoot holding your camera in portrait orientation, switch to landscape. If you normally fill the frame with your subject’s face, pull back to create more lifestyle-type photos. Try different lenses, if you have them, for a different type of photo.

Tip #12: Different Backgrounds

What type of background do you normally play with? Try posing your child in front of different types of backgrounds. Instead of the typically plain background, find something interesting – a beautiful cityscape, flowers, sky and clouds, graffitied wall, anything! Find different situations and fun backgrounds to jazz up your photos.

What do you think? Which of these 12 tips appeal to your inner creative self? Do you have any tips that you use to add more “wow” to your kid’s portrait photos? Please share!