My manual settings on this image below:
ISO – 200
aperture – F 4.5
shutter speed – 1/400 second
lens – 50mm 1.2

My manual settings on this image below:
ISO – 200
aperture – F 2.5
shutter speed – 1/800 second
lens – 85mm 1.2

My manual settings on this image below:
ISO – 200
aperture – F 4
shutter speed – 1/500 second
lens – 50mm 1.2

Now go capture some smiles….but a TIP first….

Make SURE your camera settings are all figured out before you start trying to get those smiles. Get your camera all set up for the lighting and situation that you’re in and THEN try to gather smiles.

I first come up with a plan. Where do I want them to sit or stand? And then I look at the available light and set up my manual camera settings for that light (ISO, aperture, and shutter speed). I set my custom white balance. Then I take one quick test shot of the spot where I will have the wiggly little kids sit (before I put the kids there, see below) and I double check my exposure on my LCD screen. Does it look okay? Are my settings appropriate for what I’m trying to achieve and for how many little people I will be photographing? Is my shutter speed fast enough for possibly moving little kids?

**All of this above is done before putting the kids in the spot.

When I’m pretty sure that I’m ready to snap away with my camera, then I gather the little people and put them where I want them for the photo. That way I am not using up the one minute of the time that they will sit still for me to figure out my camera settings. But instead I can use that one or two minutes of them sitting still to capture a few pictures.  :)

The manual settings for this shot below:
ISO – 200 (full shade, in the morning)
aperture – F4.5 (four boys and I want them all in focus even if their depths of field differ slightly)
shutter speed – 1/250 (what I needed for proper exposure)
lens – 50mm 1.2

Try it! I hope it’s helpful to you! Have fun photographing those wiggly little people. They’re some of the best little challenges to capture! Because they’re tricky their mama’s (or you…if they’re your kiddos) will appreciate the pictures even more.

TIP #30: Make memories, don’t just photograph them.

I know we all want to capture amazing pictures of our kids as they throw a snowball, or as they eat their first birthday cake, or while they learn to ride their bike. But be sure to be present when making memories with your family. Capture some moments with your camera and then put your camera down and be a part of the memory. Don’t allow your part of the experience to always be only behind the camera. Get down on the floor and play. Go throw a snowball. Take a few pictures here and there, but you want your kids to remember that you were part of the experience as well, right? Not that you were just there to document it. So be in it.

In order to be a part of the experience you have to know your camera so you can be quick and move fast. So practice, practice, practice. Maybe even practice now and then when your kids aren’t there. Practice without wiggly little people. Learn how to use your manual settings well so you have control over lighting. Be content with shots of candid moments rather than making your kids constantly stop what they’re doing to look at you and say “cheese”.

Here are a few shots from a special ice cream shop on our recent vacation.

My manual settings for all three images:
ISO 1250, aperture F 3.2, shutter 1/200 second

TIP #23: Go with the flow with kids. Be flexible.

Little children can be moody and somewhat temperamental. So… in regards to photography (not parenting, but photography), go with the flow. Push them a little for the image that you want, but…. go with what keeps them happy, joyful and not red-faced and tearful (nobody wants that). I am not opposed to small bribery types of rewards. And I think that it’s best to keep these moving, exciting, and fun for the kids. The pictures turn out better as a result as well.

If you were (for example) planning for a great look-at-the-camera type of picture and the child isn’t going for it. Then be flexible, adjust. Flex to a mommy’s-tickling-you kind of picture. Or have the child walk away from you and then run toward you laughing and capture that. Or play peek-a-boo. Or… or… or… Go with the flow. See what works for that child, during that season of life, during that hour, and go with it. Those images will be far better than forcing them to sit in someone’s lap and perform with a smile. Trust me. I’ve tried that. And… it’s overrated.   :)

You may start with this…

But the goal is to end with this…

TIP #22: Take a test shot before you put the little people in place.

Select all your camera settings and take a test shot before you call little people to be in the picture. You will have much more success if you focus on your camera settings when little children are not waiting for you. For example, look at these pictures below. First, I took a moment to set up my camera for my lighting in the particular setting I wanted to get a picture of six little kids in. Then, I called the kids in and took their picture. They only lasted half of a  minute really anyway, right? So make the most of it. :)

TIP #18: Sometimes…keep it simple.

That may not seem like much of a photography tip… but it is. Hear me out. It is. There are so many props these days. So many ways to add to a photo with … a backdrop, a baseboard, a chair, a banner and a setting and a tutu and a wagon and a lollipop. And don’t get me wrong they’re all great (I use them at times)…but sometimes… just keep it simple and let a little child be a beautiful child. And… just that. Nothing else.

It can be quite beautiful. So try and photograph that. :)

My manual settings for this picture:
ISO 250, aperture F 2.2, shutter 1/1000, lens 85mm 1.2

TIP #15: Try not to chop off any limbs in crazy places.

When photographing people of any kind, try not to chop off their limbs in any crazy places. It’s best to avoid chopping off at joints, elbows, fingers, ankles, etc. Of course there’s a time for pictures of just certain body parts, fingers, toes, etc. But for the most part a picture will look better with the hands, elbows, or feet. It’s not that you can’t get in close. I love close up shots. Just be mindful of where exactly the edge of the image will fall. Try to avoid the chopped look.

Compare these pictures below.

TIP #14: Try a new perspective.

Do you feel like your pictures always look the same? Try a new perspective. If you’re usually standing or squatting when shooting, then try laying down flat on the ground. Or try standing up higher on a stool. At times a new perspective can change everything.

For this first shot below I was down on my knees trying to have my camera near their eye level.

Then for this shot below I was on a chair up above looking down.

And this one below was kind of in between. I was standing and they were sitting looking up. Change of perspective changes the image, right? So, switch things up and try some new angles and try shooting from a new fresh perspective. Try some things that make you uncomfortable. Who knows, you may love it! :)

Now on this last one below they’re standing a little ways away from me, maybe 15 feet, and I’m squatted down near the ground shooting up a bit.

TIP #11: Capture those in between moments.

Do you want natural images? Real smiles rather than those forced smiles? Or little kids staring at you like…. “What?” When you want natural images it doesn’t always work to have little ones look at the camera and smile, or even adults for that matter. You need to give them something to do and then capture the moments when they are truly interacting and enjoying the moment. And during those quick moments in between the posed moments, that’s when you need to be ready to shoot.

So in this first shot below the little girl was just staring at me as though she were thinking… “What do you want now crazy lady?”

Then (below) we started playing a game where she would find mommy’s nose.

And oh she thought she was so very funny. So this shot below is an in between moment, right before she reached for mommy’s nose again.

TIP #10: Get in closer.

Get ready to take a pic, get all your settings in order and shoot. But then… get in even closer. I love images that are close and tight. I love the intimacy in a tight close up image. I also love how the distractions all fall away and bring your attention straight to the subject. So don’t hesitate to get in even closer when you’re shooting.

This first picture below is sweet and shows how little she is in the middle of the big tall trees. But…

But… oh how I love this one when I got in closer.