If you would love to capture more natural, joyful and authentic family photographs then the best thing you can do is to let children be themselves. The best sessions are when children feel unfettered and by letting them set the pace - be that fast or slow - we capture true reflections of people which families identify with. When you look back at your photographs you want to be struck by that feeling in your gut that reminds you of how sweet they were at that age. You don’t want to be thinking that’s the time they wouldn’t sit still for a photograph and we had a big melt down! In this blog post I’ll give you my top 5 tips for taking more natural and joyful photographs of your children.

Set the scene. Think about where you’re going to take your photographs. At home you want to be by a window or where there is great natural light. Recently someone asked me about how I used flash at my in-home family photography sessions. The answer is I don’t! I very rarely (almost never) use a flash indoors for a family session, we just find the light or we go with the moody and dark feel. Natural light is our best friend. Often the master bedroom has the best light. Kids love to play on the parents bed so why not make a game of it and capture the joy, playing peek a boo under the sheet, or morning cuddles and chats on the bed. Watch the light in your home and notice where it falls throughout the day. If you have gorgeous sunbeams coming in somewhere then set up some toys there or if they are older ask them to sit in the pretty light (something children of photographers are used to being asked!) and experiment with where the light falls on them or what shadows they can make of themselves on the walls - have them dance in the light and snap away. Another good one for pretty light is pools is asking them to close their eyes and tell you their favourite colour or food.
Point of view. Think about where you’ll position yourself for the photograph. Straight on and and at their eye level is perfect for an intimate and up close portrait. For more of the story take a step back and get in some of the room and the scene, especially if it’s an action shot where they are playing or jumping on the bed. Tell a story with your photograph. In years to come these details of home will be so meaningful to you and to your children. You can also lay on the floor or stand on a chair to change up the perspective and get a more documentary feel. Experiment with different positions and try out portraits - up close and personal and engaging with them or more fly on the wall observing shots.
Top tips for newborns. Always remember that your angle with babies is very important. For newborn photography you want to avoid shots up the nose! So for those close up face shots be looking down their face as opposed to up. Shots from above are also wonderful for newborns (just make sure you have your camera strap on and are not in danger of falling!). Don’t forget all those tiny details - eyelashes, tiny curled up fingers and that milk drunk fast asleep look. Use a simple wrap or body suit and keep it really simple.
Best time of day. For childrens photography I always recommend a morning session. Children are often at their best in the morning and you can get some beautiful morning light too. I always avoid afternoon photographs because sometimes little ones can be grumpy after their lunchtime naps but this would make a good time for more documentary style images while they sit and play quietly or rest with a snack. Of course sunset is beautiful too and if your children are a little older than this light can be magical for outdoors in the yard.
Natural shots. My number one piece of advice when taking photographs of your children is not to ask them to smile, or sit still. Talk with them and ask them to tell you about their day, or ask them to sing a song, or tell a joke. Wait for them to laugh, or look off into the distance while they think and snap your photograph then. You want to capture the in-between so you have to wait for the fall out. If it’s a photograph with a sibling or another family member ask them a question about who they are with. What colour eyes does your brother have? I also like to take my face away from the camera and look at the children, make it a conversation or say or do something funny that makes them laugh. My number one game to play is the smell game. Have everyone cuddle up together on the bed then ask someone to smell another person's cheek and report back what it smells like. Now the results can vary from anything like strawberries to things not so pleasant BUT it does normally result in lots of laughter and fun. Snap away, set your camera to burst mode, and get all those moments. Another one I like is to ask them if they can see themselves in my camera, this works really only if you have a DSLR or a reflective lens, and then once they have found the eye of the camera ask them a question. It might take time so relax and make it fun. The more you can get your little ones to chat and engage then the better it will be. Compliment them, ask them to tell them you something, be interested in them and you’ll have them begging you to take their picture more and more!

A simple moment in the kitchen snacking on a banana and looking content. Let your subject relax and hold the eye of the camera.

So that’s a few simple ways you can take more natural photos of your children at home. The best thing to do is to keep at it. Henri Cartier Bresson said our first 10,000 photographs are our worst so don’t give up. It’s also true that the more your children are used to having their photograph taken, in an unobtrusive and relaxed way, the better the results will be. The families who see me every year end up with photographs that are more beautiful each year and that is for two reasons. Firstly, we develop a relationship (which you already have with your family) and secondly, they become more used to being in front of the camera and don’t feel self conscious. It becomes a fun thing to do together. If having our photo taken can be as easy as playing or sitting down and having a chat then probably more of us would be less reluctant to do so. Most of us hate fuss and being told what to do. Engage or observe and try out different rooms and light and I promise you’ll have some keepers for your albums and walls. Let me know how you get on, I’d love to see some photographs you’ve taken at home. x

Find the pretty pockets of light in your home and experiment with where the light falls.

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