TIPS TO BOOST CREATIVITY IN KID’S PHOTOS

It can be easy to get a little too comfortable when it comes to kid’s photos; particularly when you’ve been doing it for a while. Unfortunately, that also means that your child photography will stay relatively the same, the same shot, same settings, each time. So what do you do to kick start your creative juices?

Zoom While Shooting

This is a fun effect, easy to do, and can involve your kids. When focused on your kid, zoom out while taking the shot. For the best effect you need to keep your camera very still while the shot is taken to avoid blurring the subject, and you’ll want to practice zooming smoothly for the best results.

Try a Different Perspective

Taking images of your kids at eye level forges a connection; but taking every shot from this level can get kind of predictable after a while. Try different perspectives to shake up your images; above, below, from the side shooting up, etc. You can even try from shooting from the ground; with your kids on floor level – sure it’s technically the same as eye level, but your settings are different.

Try a Long Exposure

Rather than those crisp, clear shots that you’re used to; try for some purposeful blurring with longer exposures; kids running or riding bikes can be a good place to start. Again these types of shots work better with tripods – the longer the shot, the more chance you have for blur due to camera shake, rather than on purpose.

How About Noise?

We try to stick to the rules: sharp photos with no noise. But changing it up can be fun too, as well as giving you more creativity. Bumping up your ISO sensitivity can create interesting grain and an “antique” feel – particularly if you use it in black and white.

Layered Kid’s Photos

If you haven’t tried this before, start by seeing if your camera offers a tool in-camera. Otherwise, you can use various photo editing software to layer one or several exposure on top of each other. Check out this gallery for some samples.

Stop Focusing [Sometimes]

Perfect focus doesn’t always give you the best shot, purposely putting part or all of your shot out of focus can make for a fascinating image. Try it sometime!

Try Some Infrared Photography

While it may not be ideal for photographing your kids, infrared photography opens up a whole new world – particularly when it comes to landscapes or cityscapes. By capturing infrared lights, rather than the normal spectrum you get amazing, ethereal images.

All you need to get started is an IR filter for your camera, along with a tripod – since you’ll need to expose for much longer than a traditional image.