Toddler Photos

cwoodard

I have been taking photos of my son and the kids in my mother's group as a way to get some practice. I hope I can make this my new career eventually - photographing children and their families. I would really appreciate feedback, suggestions, etc. How could I improve upon them?

Photos of a friend's son:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.


Photos of my son:



18.

19.

20.

21.

Both boys:

22.

WingsOfLovePhoto

Not too bad! Cute kids and you caught some cute expressions! Toddlers are a challenge for sure! They are my main clientelle. I like the one of your son at the piano the best and number 4 a close second. Just a few things noticed....

Almost all are perfectly centered. Learn the rule of thirds. Makes for much more interesting photos. The piano one is right on the money for that

I think I see on camera flash? Try getting the flash off or look for natural light which will give sparkle to the eyes and ditch the flash. Children naturally have big sparkly eyes, they just need a light source to find them and liven them up. This is usually the sun reflecting off something. Even the darkest of eyes can catch the light.

Look for open shade. Less squinting and more availability of soft light.

In the one of the mother and son I would have turned them around. The baby should be the star of the show and get more of the light than the mother if you have to make a choice.


Just a few observations, take if for what it is worth...

cwoodard

Thank you so much. Exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for!

I was using my external flash as fill to try and avoid shadows in the faces since I kept getting them (shadows, that is). I will absolutely try some photos without it and will keep in mind to avoid centering them all

sweet caroline

The fill flash looks good. You don't have to do away with flash, but it is usually more pleasing if you can fire a flash from off camera. I usually put mine on a light stand. #18 is a good example of one that is not centered, but it's more difficult to get your subject off center but still completely in the frame if he/she is running around!

You are off to a great start.

Caroline

cwoodard

I can't figure out how to manage the flash off the camera while following around the kids... When I'm at home using my little studio, I use a light in a softbox, but while doing candids outdoors, I can't hold the flash and manage zooming the lens too. Any suggestions?

WingsOfLovePhoto

cwoodard wrote:

I can't figure out how to manage the flash off the camera while following around the kids... When I'm at home using my little studio, I use a light in a softbox, but while doing candids outdoors, I can't hold the flash and manage zooming the lens too. Any suggestions?

I gave up using flash for the most part with the little ones...just too hard as you have mentioned. I take my time to "contain" them in places for short periods of time when I find a pleasing light. Planters, wagons, flower patches etc.. as you did with the hay. Stop them in their tracks by singing a song or saying something that might make them stop and think. This is an example. This little guy was running like crazy, squinting because of the sun. Found a shady patch of flowers and stuck him in there. He was kind of afraid to move but thought it was funny at the same time! You can see there was specular highlights in the eyes and very little shadow that would seem like maybe there was some flash used but there wasn't. It won't work all the time but for me it does most of the time!

goldilocksandmy3bears

WingsOfLovePhoto wrote:

I gave up using flash for the most part with the little ones...just too hard as you have mentioned. I take my time to "contain" them in places for short periods of time when I find a pleasing light. Planters, wagons, flower patches etc.. as you did with the hay. Stop them in their tracks by singing a song or saying something that might make them stop and think. This is an example. This little guy was running like crazy, squinting because of the sun. Found a shady patch of flowers and stuck him in there. He was kind of afraid to move but thought it was funny at the same time! You can see there was specular highlights in the eyes and very little shadow that would seem like maybe there was some flash used but there wasn't. It won't work all the time but for me it does most of the time!

What were your settings on this picture Sandy? - looks good.

WingsOfLovePhoto

goldilocksandmy3bears wrote:

What were your settings on this picture Sandy? - looks good.

Thanks...exif is ISO 800 (had been in a dark area before this... normally I would have decreased it to 400...my usual ISO outside with the kids... the D3 has no noise at either of these if the exposure is spot on.) I almost always shoot on F4 or occasionally 2.8 (thanks to Zoomer) and the SS was 1/1250 to control the bright ambient light on the blond hair. I shoot high shutter speed with the kids due to all the movement. And since I am not worried about flash sync I can do that! But in normalcy I would have shot this on iso 400, f4 and about 1/500.... They were shot with an 85mm 1.8. Hope this helps:D

cwoodard

Thanks for posting the EXIF info, I think it will be very helpful! I'll be back outdoors taking some photos next month (at the latest) - costumed toddlers in a pumpkin patch - and am going to play around with all this some more!