Catching kids on camera at Christmas, is easy with some simple camera tips on lighting, location and on how to keep it natural.
Let’s take lighting first - in low light you’ll need to use the flash. Avoid the dark halo around the head by keeping children away from walls and large objects. Photograph them from above them, so any shadow will fall behind them and won’t show in the picture.
In natural light, put the window behind you and stay low so that light falls onto the children. Simple things like opening blinds increases the amount of daylight.
As for location, your photographs should tell the story of Christmas so include the tree, decorations and other paraphernalia. You can turn any space in the home into a studio, such as the kitchen table (keep everyone facing the light) or the hallway (open the front door to let more light in).
Keep it natural by photographing the kids when they are engrossed in activity, playing with toys, playing with the boxes the toys came in! Put music on to mask the sound of the camera, sit on the floor, and photograph what happens naturally.
If your family comes together every Christmas, take a group photograph you can recreate each year, making your own piece of family history, showing everyone in the same place each year, your own family tradition. When positioning everyone think of ‘sit, stand, lean’ and use a mixture of this to keep interest in the photograph.
Zoe Photography - 01704 544666 www.zoephotography.co.uk