Children may be smaller than adults but their personalities are much larger than life. While it is possible to work with adults and pose then in flattering positions, the same effect is not often achieved with child. Why not?? The answer is actually quite simple. Children do not behave like adults and often express their personalities with quirky mannerisms. Posed portraits tend to be the exact opposite.
This is one of the reasons why I loathe typical studio portraits of children. They look fake and my clients agree. It is imperative to let kids be kids. When you are capturing children in print, their own personality needs to shine through … not that of the adult posing the child.
I am very well known as a child photographer in Michigan and recently ran a child photography contest entitled “Kids Being Kids“. It was for children ages 1-6 that displayed extraordinary personality and character. The family of the winning child received a free on-location photography session, an 8×10 print from their favorite proof and a complimentary annual membership in the Paul Manoian Photography V.I.P. portrait program. The whole purpose, as a child photographer, was to capture children being themselves.
I’d be lying if I said professionally photographing children was easy. It isn’t. To put it in perspective, I shoot 200-300 frames per hour during an adult portrait session and 300-400 frames per hour for a wedding. In contrast, I shoot 400-500 frames per hour for children. The reason? They are constantly on the move and I’m shooting the whole time.
Most of my on location portrait sessions run approximately 1-2 hours which means I have a lot of proofs to go through at the end of the child’s portrait session. So, while the session time may be on par with adults, I have 2-3 times as many proofs to go through equating to 2-3 times as much effort on my part, the photographer. In fact, it would not be unusual for me to invest 4-8 hours of time in their portrait session, image review, proof color/white balancing, print optimization, etc.
So, how do I do it??
Firstly, being a father of two, I recognizes the importance of keeping young children happy and relaxed during a photography session. They are encouraged to eat snacks and have breaks as often as necessary. I may even ask you to step aside so they can play and be themselves without constantly being prompted to smile or “look at the camera”.
Secondly, locations where they are comfortable provide the best environment for child photography. They need to be free to be themselves. Beautiful parks and beaches make wonderful locations.
Thirdly, I continue to expand and incorporate the latest technology into my digital workflow. This allows me to keep pace with the evolutionary progressions in photography and ultimately improve the quality of the products I am able to offer my clients. This applies to child photography, family photography and even wedding photography.
Having child portraits made should be an exciting and enjoyable experience, one where we can capture endearing images that your family will cherish for years to come.
Would you rather take your children to a studio where they are pigeon-holed into a time slot with people waiting in line behind them or to someone that does not schedule two portrait sessions in the same day?
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