AMY KRISTIN PHOTOGRAPHY 7 tips for taking better photos of your kids with your smartphone
1. TURN OFF THE FLASH.
Sure, if you’re in the dark, there’s no way around using the flash. But in most lighting situations, smartphone cameras will do pretty well without the flash. Photos are much nicer without the harsh, direct flash.
2. GET DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL.
Instead of taking photos from your vantage point, which is up higher than your kids, get down to where they are. This will allow you to capture their world view.
3. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EYES.
If possible, situate your child so that their eyes have light in them (“catchlights”). These give the eyes light and life and make for a more dynamic photo. When you take the photo, make sure you focus on the eyes so that they are clear and sharp.
4. IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT POSES.
Posed photos are adorable, but catching kids in candid moments can make for even better photos. Take a step back and observe and photograph your kids at play, doing homework, or even sleeping for some of the best photos.
5. USE BURST MODE FOR ACTION SHOTS.
Capturing the best action shots comes when you take multiple photos in a row while the action is happening. You are sure to get some winners when you’re using burst.
6. TRY THIRD PARTY CAMERA APPS.
While the native camera app on most phones is good, there are third party apps that allow more control for the control freaks amongst us. Many of them allow control over things like white balance, shutter speed, and ISO and allow you to separate exposure and focus. Camera + and VSCO are two that I like.
7. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Great photos don’t need lots of props, crazy expressions, or extreme styling. Real, simple, uncluttered compositions make for some of the best photos.
www.amykristin.com