I talk to so many moms who have trouble taking photos of their kids.  Either the kids aren’t interested in stopping to pose for a picture, or they get impatient holding the pose as mom tries over and over to get just one good shot.  I have a few tricks that just might help you get a good shot while still keeping everyone happy!

GET ON THEIR LEVEL

Kneel down, squat down, or lay down, but do whatever you need to in order to get on eye-level with your child.  More than likely they’ll be looking down at whatever they are doing, and it’s easier to catch a glance than to have them stop what they’re doing and look up.  If you have an entry level digital SLR camera, you’ll have more luck with catching the quick moments.  Standard point and shoots will probably take some more finesse with the time delay.  One way to get around that is to make sure you’re by a window, outdoors, or in an area with plenty of light and turn your flash off.  Not only will you get better color in your photos, you also won’t have those pesky red eyes to deal with!  A favorite trick I use regularly with younger kids is to have them lay on their back on a blanket.  Stand over them and pretend like you’re going to fall on them.  If that doesn’t work (or if they’re infants that aren’t sitting up yet), kneel down and tickle them with one hand while shooting with your other.  Most of the time, a fit of giggles will ensue.  The above shot was taken with a Nikon Coolpix S220 (point and shoot) with the flash off, and without any color correction–just some sharpening for clarity.

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