| As soon as a couple finds out they're pregnant, the | | | | moving. |
| first thing they do is to go buy a camera for | | | | So here's a suggestion, rather than shoot one picture |
| recording the first precious moments of their baby. | | | | and look at it, just shoot and shoot and look later. |
| The first time their baby opens their eyes, the first | | | | You can always delete the ones you don't like, but |
| time they smile-those moments are fleeting and gone | | | | you can never recapture the moment missed while |
| forever, unless captured and preserved for all time | | | | you looked at the pictures one at a time. If you're |
| because they grow up so quickly. It is important to | | | | always waiting for that magic shot, it will never |
| document the innocence of youth by capturing it in a | | | | come, so just fire the shutter and you will find the |
| picture, to anchor the memories around happy times. | | | | magic. |
| Professional photography, while good for | | | | 3. Step into Your Shot - Most people have a |
| documenting growth and change, never seems to | | | | tendency to pick up a camera and then immediately |
| capture the real child, that playful little spirit that | | | | to step back from their subject. That is not a good |
| inhabits your day. You have to do that yourself, | | | | idea when taking pictures of your children. You don't |
| immediately when it happens and in the moment that | | | | want to be on top of them to squelch their |
| it occurs. So how to do you do that? Well, it's not as | | | | spontaneity. But you do want to be close enough so |
| difficult as it may sound. You don't need to be a | | | | that "they" are the subject of the shot. In other |
| professional photographer. With a little forethought | | | | words fill you viewfinder with the action or the head |
| and a ready camera and you too will be able to | | | | and shoulders of the child. Lose the background, the |
| freeze frame those specials times for you and your | | | | statutes, the playground equipment. These are only |
| child. | | | | distractions inside the frame. Remember you're taking |
| A simple point and shoot digital camera is really all | | | | pictures of your kids, not the tree behind them, so |
| that you need. Most cameras made today have | | | | cut it out your viewfinder. This is called viewfinder |
| automatic focus so that you won't have to fiddle | | | | editing. |
| with the settings. And many of the inexpensive | | | | 4. Shooting Manually Rather Than Automatically - |
| cameras give good results, similar to their more | | | | After looking at your pictures and after becoming |
| expensive cousins. Pay attention to the pixel count as | | | | familiar with your camera, you may decide that you |
| this will determine how well you can enlarge your | | | | want to try some hands on manual adjusting rather |
| shots, should you choose to do so. The more pixels, | | | | than to rely on your automatic settings. Most digital |
| the bigger you can make the picture and better the | | | | cameras allow for manual adjustment and come with |
| resolution. | | | | easy to understand instructions. However, some |
| Four Child Photography Tips: | | | | things about cameras, old or new are forever. |
| 1. Capturing the Moment - Kids are natural actors and | | | | For instance, if you're attempting to capture action, |
| clowns, approaching life as adventure, because for | | | | then you have to have a fast shutter speed. Most |
| them it is. They really don't know what's around that | | | | cameras refer to it as "stop action." Shutting speeds |
| next corner, so it's best to hang back and watch | | | | above 1/250 will stop action. The faster the shutter |
| them discover. Don't try to pose them or stage | | | | speed the better. You will also have to adjust the |
| them in front of something. That's when they get | | | | aperture setting, too. The aperture determines how |
| stiff, trying to please you. Let them play. Let them | | | | much light is let into the camera. Bright sunny days |
| experience. Have your camera at the ready for when | | | | require less light than dull overcast days. Practice |
| magic happens. | | | | shooting in various light conditions to familiarize |
| 2. Shoot Like a Pro - Look Later-One of the secrets | | | | yourself with the way to adjust your equipment. |
| of photography is that capturing the one special | | | | Don't be intimidated by your equipment. Following |
| moment may take more than one shot. Sometimes it | | | | these four child photography tips and have fun with |
| takes several shots and you don't see the best one | | | | the camera as well as enjoy the kids as they play. |
| until later when looking back at the pictures. Shooting | | | | Snap away while they play and you will find those |
| digitally allows you to immediately look at your shots, | | | | special keepsake moments, guaranteed. |
| so that you can delete or save the good ones. If | | | | I hope you have found these child photography tips |
| you do that, however, you might miss the great one | | | | useful. |
| because the kids don't stop playing, they keep | | | | |