Tips on Child Photography - The Formal Shots

The Formal Shots - If you are doing this natural style of child photography, it is usually a good idea to get some more formal photographs as well. This way, you have covered all bases, and again, more to add to your portfolio.

Ask the parents if they would like to be in a few photographs, and set up the room and lighting accordingly. Whereas with the informal child photography, the room set up does not matter so much, the formal shots require a little more attention.

(Although, for this shot of Sonia and Dillon a very quick, make-shift studio was set up in the bedroom using very little resources).

Set up the camera and make sure there are no distractions with eyeshot;

• Light and TV cables
• Cups, mugs or general items that look "Ugly" in a photograph
• Reflections from your light source, be it studio lights, flash (bounced) or the window light. This is where digital comes into its own, you can fire a test shot and instantly see where any problems lie.
• Don't sit the subject too close to the wall behind them, or you will get shadows on the odd occasion.

If the parents are in the photograph, set the family up so that it looks natural, or how they may look if they were watching TV. Don't be afraid to get in close and crop tightly for a couple. Add a vase of flowers, or any other props you see in the room, don't be afraid to ask to re-arrange the room a little.

Take the photograph at their level, although you can if you are confident you can pull it off, get a little artistic, and try some weird and wonderful angles. Get on the floor with the baby and shoot as though you were another baby playing, from his or her viewpoint.

Go To Tip 11. The Eyes! The Eyes!!

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