First child photo shoot!

OptimusBri

OptimusBri

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Briony
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I've been asked by a friend if I could do a photo shoot for her 6 year old daughter. I'm more than happy to do so, and quite looking forward to it, but I have never really photographed children before! I've done tonnes of portraits and other work, but my experience with children is only from taking family photographs of younger cousins, and some images of 1-2 year olds during a dance/movement session with their parents, but nothing in the studio.

I'm meeting my friend on Friday, so we're going to discuss the kind of thing she wants. So far, I know she wants a shoot in the studio rather than on location, and would quite like to incorporate some dance type shots as her daughter is very good at ballet. She had a photo shoot done a couple of years ago which I've seen the photographs from, and would like a more up to date one. Apparently her daughter is confident in front of the camera so at least I won't have any problems there!

Does anyone have any advice for me? With regards to lighting/how to interact/anything that I might not be aware of :)
 
Light the set in a general manner, 2 on the background and 2 on the subject at 45 deg. This will allow the child to move around the set and you can track her without worrying about lighting. Kids of 6 do not sit around for long and get bored easily, so move from one pose to another quickly or let the child show you her best moves and be ready to capture them. Have the mother stand behind you and encourage her daughter.

When the bottom lip comes out you have finished the session, going any further will only end in tears generally. Her bottom lip, not yours.
 
canonlad said:
Light the set in a general manner, 2 on the background and 2 on the subject at 45 deg. This will allow the child to move around the set and you can track her without worrying about lighting. Kids of 6 do not sit around for long and get bored easily, so move from one pose to another quickly or let the child show you her best moves and be ready to capture them. Have the mother stand behind you and encourage her daughter.

When the bottom lip comes out you have finished the session, going any further will only end in tears generally. Her bottom lip, not yours.
Click to expand...

Thanks Barry - good advice about the lighting! :)
 
Hopefully someone might give some useful info :)
 
Last edited:
Don't just rush into the shoot. Spend some time interacting with children. They will become more confident in your presence.
The better rapport you build the easier the shoot will be. Keep smiling and make it fun, remember take loads of shots.

Always let them bring their own ideas into the shoot. My Son is same age and he is always more interested if his ideas are included.
Kids of that age get bored quick, when they do its game over.

Good Luck
 
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