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photo details: nikon d7100 // nikon 35 mm f/1.8 lens // iso 400 // f/1.8 // 1/320 ss

I am frequently asked what camera I use and what tips I have for getting better photos of kids.  I’m working on a post about what equipment I use and that will be posted in the very near future.  In the mean time, I have a handful of tips to help you better capture those precious little people in your life.

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1. Get low.  Depending on your height and that of your child, you are most likely a few feet taller than your subject.  Rather than taking a photo standing and looking down, get low.  Crouch, sit on the floor, or lay down.  However you choose to do it, get low and photograph their perspective rather than your own.  In the photo above, I tried sitting down first and then decided to lay down in an attempt to get even more on par with my son.

2. Let them play.  Without a doubt, I love Aidan’s smile.  Those few moments when his huge blue eyes stare at me through the lens and he gives me his sweet grin, well, those are the moments that make your heart burst into exactly one million tiny little pieces.  And this happens only once a year when all the stars align and unicorns show up on my doorstep.  I’m not saying give up on making that shot happen.  But if you are trying to capture what your child does on a daily basis, if you are trying to become a better photographer, if you are trying to capture milestones realize that not every one of those requires a smiling face.  In fact, some of the most simple photos can be the most beautiful.  So let your child play and capture the moment.photo details: nikon d7100 // nikon 35 mm f/1.8 lens // iso 500 // f/2.0 // 1/500 ss

3. Find the light. There are certain areas of our house that provide more light than others.  Light pours into Aidan’s play area in the morning.  In contrast, our basement gets only a sliver of light and is not conducive to getting great photos.  Rather than torture myself, I have adjusted.  More photos are taken in the areas where I have better lighting.  So find the spots in your house that allow great light.  And don’t underestimate bathrooms!  Our master bathroom has a massive window and gets a great deal of light throughout the day.

4. Work with what you have and make what you have work for you.  I will be sharing more about what equipment I use but over the last year I have been using a Nikon D7100.  If I could toss my budget out the window and get anything I wanted, I would absolutely upgrade my camera body and current lenses.  I would also add a couple more to my camera bag.  Until that day comes, I continue to work with what I have.  I have studied my camera, I have figured out what settings I prefer, and I can make adjustments without delay.  It is important to really master the equipment you have currently before upgrading because until you do that, you may be upgrading without really improving.  So my advice to you is that you learn the intricacies of your current camera and when you have truly hit the ceiling with what you currently own, then make the jump to the next level.photo details: nikon d7100 // nikon 35 mm f/1.8 lens // iso 400 // f/2.2 // 1/400 ss

5. Practice.  I posted about this recently.  The more photos you take, the more photos you edit, and the more photos you analyze, the better you will get.  Nothing can replace this.  Aidan is a terrible model and is constantly on the go.  I also work full time so for three months of winter time, I rarely have good light.  I can easily use these as excuses – and admittedly, sometimes I do – but that won’t change things.  So I practice.

I would love to hear if these tips help and good luck in capturing better photos of your kids!