Children's Portrait Photography: A Comprehensive Guide

The good news is that children’s portrait photography can be extremely creative, with many themes and scenarios that will help you capture excitement and joy. In this guide, we cover how to work with children and their parents, and we also provide a list of ideas that you can try out for yourself. So let’s get started!

Preparation and Planning

With a solid plan, you can ensure that you’re meeting the parents’ expectations for the shoot and understanding the themes they are aiming for. More crucially, a thoroughly planned shoot will allow you to be more efficient, so you can complete the session quickly before the child becomes restless and tired.

So how do you prepare really well? Pay attention to these three factors: 

1. Time: Choose a time of day when the child is awake and alert. Discuss with the parents when the child has the most energy, ensuring they are more likely to interact and be happy on camera.

2. Location: Discuss with the parents the type of shoot they are looking for, whether it be in the studio or an outdoor setting. You can base a theme around the location and incorporate relevant props and outfits for the child.

3. Ideas: Learn from the parents what they want and confirm their ideas with a mood board that you can both agree on ahead of time. This creates a smoother process and ensures the shoot is a success with a happy child and parents.

Planning is always important, but when working with children, it can be argued it is even more critical. Work closely with the parents so that you both walk away from the shoot happy with the outcome.

Gathering All the Essential Equipment

Before we get started with our guide, let’s first ensure you are fully equipped for children’s portraiture photography. Unlike other forms of portrait photography, this genre will require a few additional tools:

• Fast Lens: When working with adults, we know that they are aware of staying still and moving between each shot. Children, on the other hand, may not be as understanding. They can become restless and reluctant to stay still long enough to get a good, clean shot. You need a fast lens that can auto-focus quickly, allowing you to get sharp and focused images.

• Props: Children’s shoots tend to be fun and bright, so having props on hand that can add life and fun will dramatically enhance the theme of the shoot. Consider large soft plushies, soft materials, and toys.

• Distractions: Younger children especially may not understand that they need to look directly into the camera lens. Having a toy or something bright and eye-catching held next to your camera will direct the child’s attention and have them looking towards the lens. Let’s look at more ways to engage children’s attention.

How to Engage Children: 5 Simple Techniques

When photographing children, we are not only trying to capture their expressions but also their attention. It can be extremely difficult with children who are tired, restless or have little interest, so it will require a few techniques to have the child look your way:

1. Energy: You will need to be full of energy and excitement if you are attempting to distract a child and have them look your way. The more energised you are, the more you will interest the child. If you can make the child laugh with your energy and actions, you will succeed in capturing a lovely shot.

2. Communication: When a child is looking your way, encourage and praise them for doing so. Use simple, positive language as much as possible. We also want the child to look happy and be smiling, so such positive communication will help towards that. Have a conversation with the parents beforehand to see if there is anything that they know of that their child will respond positively to.

3. Toys: Toys, brightly coloured objects, and toys that flash with different colours—anything that the child may be interested in—are necessary for you to hold alongside your camera. Moreover, have a conversation with the parents and see if they can bring the child’s favourite toy along to the shoot. This may help you more as they are familiar with the object.

• Top Tip: Bring scale into the shoot by using props and toys that are much bigger than the child. It will be a fun addition to your shots.

4. Parents: If you are really struggling to capture the child’s attention, request the parents to get involved with the shoot and help you out. They can jump into the shot with the child and direct their attention towards you. After a few shots, the parent can then come and stand beside you to help more.

5. Relaxed Atmosphere: Above all, it is important that the child feels comfortable and relaxed. There are several ways you can ensure this. Create a calming and relaxed atmosphere within your studio, play fun music, and try to make the environment as child-friendly as possible. The child will also pick up on your energy and that of their parents. Ensure everyone, including yourself, is relaxed and happy, with encouraging bright smiles.

With a happy and relaxed child, you will succeed in grabbing their attention and having them look towards the camera. Using encouraging and positive language will help the child understand what they need to do, and don’t be afraid to bring parents into the shot to help with the child’s cooperation.

Ideas for Child Portrait Photography

Now that you’re prepared for your shoot, let’s take a look at some great ideas that you can suggest to parents.

1. Playtime!

A traditional and fun shoot! Use various toy themes such as an arrangement of giant plushies, or have the child engage in activities like running, jumping, and skipping.

• Tip: These shots don’t necessarily require the child’s attention on the camera but rather on the toys or activity. A more candid approach would look more natural and fun.

2. Costumes

Have various costumes on hand, or allow the child to bring their own. This shoot will be a lot of fun, especially if the child brings in their favourite costumes.

• Tip: Build a set around the theme of the child’s favourite costume and incorporate various props to help build a miniature fantasy world that would look great on camera.

3. Outdoor Adventures

Whether the shoot is at a park, garden, beach, or in nature, an outdoor adventure will be a great way to keep the child entertained throughout the shoot.

• Tip: This shoot can be a mixture of candid and posed shots and will be a great opportunity to include the whole family.

4. Birthday Celebrations

Set up a party table with cake and balloons. Fill the table with plush animal friends wearing party hats.

• Tip: There will be so much activity around the celebrations, including blowing out candles, playing with balloons, and popping streamers. Run through a list of birthday activities and capture candid moments.

5. Close-Up Portraits

These shots can be composed in various environments, from the studio to outdoors. Just find a nice backdrop for your shot.

• Tip: This is where you will need to work your hardest to keep the child engaged, so make use of toys and encouraging positive words to keep their focus.

6. Seasonal Themes

Spring flowers and cherry blossoms, fun in the sun, autumn leaves, and winter snow all make fantastic themes for your shots.

• Tip: This can also be achieved in the studio with the right props and backdrops, allowing you to have more control over the set.

7. Bubbles

Use bubble machines or capture the child making the bubbles themselves.

• Tip: Capture candid moments such as chasing and blowing the bubbles, and bring the parents into the shot too.

8. Storytime

Capture the child reading a book or listening to a parent read a book, in a soft and cosy environment.

• Tip: You can create themes around the book being read. For example, if it is a fairy tale book, make use of thematic backdrops and costumes.

9. Pets

This can be set up in either the studio or outdoors, with the child and pet together.

• Tip: They say never work with children or animals, yet this approach requires both. To make life easier for yourself, capture candid moments between the child and pet, which may prove easier than engaging both of their attentions.

10. Family Portraits

Bring the whole family in, pets included if you wish, and capture the loving relationships between them all.

• Tip: This shoot can occur anywhere, and it may be a better idea to capture candid moments between them all. You can shoot this in the studio or out in nature during golden hour.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to ideas for child portrait photography, the list of possibilities is endless. That is why it’s a good idea to stick to one theme and shoot around that. This will keep your shoot efficient and the child more energised and engaged. With everything agreed upon beforehand with the parents, the shoot will be fun and full of excitement, allowing you to capture candid and posed moments that will be cherished for years to come. 

Keep the child engaged with high energy levels and encouraging words to maintain their attention on you or the themes you’ve set. So get creative, have fun, and enjoy the world of child portrait photography.