Theories in Children's Photography

By no means am I an expert but I've been doing photography ever since I can remember, but my first formal training was way back in high school. Then came college courses and on the job training. Now, I specialize in children's portraits and do the occasional freelance wedding or even model's portfolio. As a former nanny, not to mention an Auntie of 16 nieces and nephews, I've put my training there to good use in dealing with and enjoying the children I photograph.

Honesty in Photography
I really enjoy what I do. I love the artistic as well as the interpersonal aspects of photography. To be a good people photographer, you must be able to interact with your subject. That is the only way to produce an "honest" portrait. And honesty is what portraiture is all about. When you look back on the photos of your grandparents and great-grandparents, all you ever see is a stern look with no real personality shining through. Doesn't it make you wonder just what they were like? In my photography, I strive to achieve a balance between truth and art. I attempt to capture a little bit of that spark of life each and every subject has.

Of course, no parent wants to see a picture of her two year old throwing a temper tantrum, but I do what I can to bring out the joyful part of being two. As difficult as that sounds, if you can get inside the child's mind and understand what is causing the tantrum, then you will be able to work towards a solution to coax the child into a happier mood. By the way, distraction is a wonderful thing!

Mary Poppins"ology"
Now comes the part about child psychology. Just the general stuff, not the Freudian thing...more of a Mary Poppins thing. Mary Poppins always knew what to say and when to say it to get Jane and Michael to do what she wanted them to do. Remember Just a Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down? If that's not gospel, then I don't know what is! She didn't just order the children to put their toys away, she made it fun. And that's what you have to do when you photograph a child...make it fun for them.

There are a few general guidelines to follow when you are dealing with children; not just in a photographic situation, but at anytime. You need to:

Considering age and ability
This is probably the most important step to dealing with children. You need to learn to recognize the various developmental levels. Every child is slightly different in timing, but most adhere to a pretty good schedule. For instance, newborn to about 3 month old children respond to soft delicate sounds and close contact. Their vision has not progressed to more than about a foot to a foot and a half beyond their own faces at this point. So the best way to get a very young baby's attention is to coo to him and touch his hands or legs. Put your face close enough for him to make eye contact. Try to mimic mom's voice as much as possible. Don't be afraid to ask mom what makes her baby smile or laugh...she'll tell you. Rattles in bright colors right next to the face on a more outgoing baby work very well. As do squeek toys.

Obviously, you wouldn't use the same technique on a 4 year old preschooler who can already count and probably almost read! The 4 year old would quickly become bored and disruptive. So you can see how important it is to assess the ability level of each child. I will give you a more definitive list for each age group in just a moment.

Ages and Abilities broken into easy to understand terms
  1. Newborn-3 Months- Still relying mostly on mom for life. He's used to her voice and smell. He can only see about 12-18 inches from his face. He's not able to sit up yet and may not even be able to push up to his tummy at 3 months.
  2. 4-6 Months- He's found his body...at least a little. He can now see about half way across a normal room, but not with great accuracy. Smiles are more easily coaxed from these content little fellas. He's learning to turn over, push up on his tummy and may even be learning to sit by the end of 6 months. This is a big time of physical discovery. It may be more difficult to keep this baby's hands away from his mouth. Drool is a big issue, so make sure you have someone on "drool patrol." Little ones this age love silly sounds like raspberries and tongue clucking. Some infants may even try to mimic you. If they do this talk to them and smile a lot. They'll smile right back!
  3. 7-12 MonthsHe's sitting up pretty well and maybe even learning to stand and walk. Most children this age love to pull up and try to stand against something. Just make sure it's sturdy. Safety is very important. Little ones this age are also notoriously quick to widggle and also easy to tire, so work quickly and keep them entertained. Around 10 months or so, you may run into the Stranger Anxiety Syndrome and the child may be clinging on mom or may get frightened when you approach. Take it in stride, it's not you (unless you ate onions and garlic for lunch!) just try to stay back a bit and direct mom to do what you need to have done. Remember, there is nothing wrong with having the child sit on mom's lap and cropping her out of the shot. The child will be happier and mom will like the portraits of a smiling child much better than the tear stained looks you would have gotten otherwise.

    Remember, a small child may consider having his picture taken to be right up there with getting a shot at the pediatrician's office. It's up to the photographer to put the child at ease. Make sure he know's you're on his side. There are a couple of things to help you figure out the best way to do this.

  4. 13-18 Months These kids are fast! This is the time to work quickly and also the time you'll see the most stranger anxiety. This age loves the peek-a-boo games. Try hiding an Elmo doll behind your back and then pop him out and say, "Oh-Oh, where'd Elmo go?"..."I think he's gonna 'git' your tummy." and then tickle the child's tummy lightly only if he seems fairly outgoing. Talk to the child, but be sure to do it in a real voice and not a baby voice. Kids this age will have no respect for you and will take advantage of the non-authoritativeness. This age takes a bit of patience and an ability to make strange noises!

  5. 19 Months-2.5 Years One word...challenge! Let's just say this is a moody age, but also a really fun age. They're discovering all physical abilities as well as developing a riotous sense of humor. This is the time to appeal to humor. Most kids this age are becoming fiercely independant and even a bit stubborn...the prase "terrible two's" was invented for a reason, but you shouldn't look at it that way. Think of it as, "terrific two's" and you'll be fine. Remember, there are so many great things about being that age. They love being called "big kids" and one of the easiest ways to coax a smile from this funny young one is to ask them to repeat words to you. Phrases like, "Say banana-head"...and when they say it, say back to them, "Are you calling me a banana-head?!?" in an incredulous voice. They will usually giggle and think they are getting away with a great coup because mom never lets them say mean things. Be creative and find something to fit your personality. Another great thing is to have something for them to do...empower them. At work, we have a light on the camera face that we can turn on and off at will. We plant it inside of the nose of some seasonal character like Santa or the Easter Bunny or a clown. We ask them to blow out the nose. It's a great game. There are similar things you can do at home like have them throw a sponge ball back and forth to you. Get them involved.

  6. 2.5-4 Years Now these guys are funny! These are the kids that love to insult mom, dad or another sibling. Instead of asking them to call you a banana-head, get them to call mom a banana-head! The look on a child's face is hysterical and you will see some of the biggest grins at that age. All sorts of little games will work with this kid. Things like, "don't laugh...don't you laugh" will have this one in stitches. Of course you have to try to be stoic at first and then break into a huge grin...the kid can't help but follow suit. These kids are also very independant. Give them choices. Things like asking if Barney or Elmo should play hide and seek with them. Or asking what color sponge ball they'd like to play catch with. This is the time to get on their level and look them in the eye. Make them feel like an equal.

  7. 5-8 Years Self concious describes this one. These kids will don a fake smile for you if you're not careful. Really get these kids involved...but do it with verbal distraction. Be sure to also compliment them on how nice they look. Things like, "you have such beautiful hair," or "Those are really cool sneakers" will do wonders for their self confidence. Also, the more gross and disgusting you can be, the better. (just don't embarrass mom or dad too much and don't push too hard.) You can go whisper in their ears and tell them that on the count of three they need to say, "Mom has stinky feet!"...then go back to the camera and count it off. Watch the grins arise from those faces! Just be careful to shoot quickly because they will generally look at mom to see her reaction. You can always have her stand behind the camera if need be. Then if it's a group of kids, get them to say silly things about one another. It's a hoot.

  8. 9-12 Years Akward. These kids get embarrassed by silliness, so instead, ask questions about their activities and favorite things. Get them talking. They need to trust that you won't make them look stupid. You can also do things like wrinkle your nose and ask them to say, "girls" or "boys" in a silly nasal voice. That will usually crack them up a bit. Just be patient and work with them. Be sure to compliment them, too.

  9. 13-16 Years Smiling can be a chore for these guys. Usually a little disdainful of adult types, you will just have to work with them a little bit. Ask about sports at school or upcoming activities they may have happening at school. Be careful about asking about dates or whatever because they may get a little touchy about that subject. Remember, these are young adults. Being or at least acting "cool" sometimes helps. Doing a phony French accent and the "heh-heh" swagger and over-complimenting hair and such will sometimes crack them up. Kind of depends on the kid!

  10. 16-18 Years Treat these as adults. Talk on their level. They hate being treated like kids. Describe the look you're going for and ease them into it. Usually works. Just think of how you would like a photographer to treat you.

Sourcing and Research
Remember, the library is full of books on children's photography. Find one that fits your personal style and go with it. Once you have your technical basics down, go for it. Be a people person. And most of all, remember that this is the coolest job in the world...where else can you act like an idiot and still get paid for it?!? (save for being a circus clown!)

Talk to other photographers and also watch their styles as they work. Seeing it done is one of the best ways to learn. Sure, it takes a little practice to get used to the flow, but it's so rewarding when you see those finished portraits with those beautiful, beaming smiles!