There are many conventional portraiture poses that can be used for photographing children. The youthful subjects might have their heads straight forward or tilted; they might be touching their face or have their hands in their laps. Details aside, these child photography poses create a formal, classic picture.
Based on a baby’s age and level of development, his or her ability to communicate and cooperate with a photographer will vary. Control over their physical faculties will dictate how easily young children’s poses can be manipulated. For really young babies it is best to have flooring and structures for climbing and resting the babies upon to make up for their lack of control. These studio props can be cropped out in the editing process. The forward facing portrait is often used by professional studios and school photographers shooting toddlers and young school-aged children. Have the child sit on a stool or the ground and directly face the camera. With this still pose, choose a matte-board or background textile that matches the child’s attire. Once the child is comfortable, have her fold her hands in her lap and position her head so she is naturally looking into the lens. Then slightly adjust her chin down toward the ground which will open up her eyes for the camera. A gentle smile is usually used for this pose.
In the photography business, angles and diagonals bring movement to a photo. Adding this angled “movement” to a child’s portrait spices up the forward facing pose and has the potential to invoke a more playful smile. Position the child on a stool with her shoulders at a 90 degree angle from the camera and have her turn her head toward the lens. Hands should be folded on the forward-most thigh, and a gentle smile is best.
Early morning and later afternoon, known as the “golden hour,” is best for natural light photography, which is a very productive light in capturing a child’s spirit. Outdoor shoots, whether in a backyard, park, or play yard give the child activities to focus on, freedom to explore, and offer many different poses and expressions. Sit the child on a park bench, swing, grassy patch, or slide and have her smile big for the camera. This pose is a bit more playful than the time-honored indoor portrait pose.
Surrounding a child in flowers, sporting equipment, billowy material and/or pillows is a common way of using props. Because each child has different hobbies, tastes, and styles, it is important to talk with caregivers before the shoot. Connect with your subject during a play date or preliminary consultation to familiarize you with her personality and you’ll know what photography props to have at the ready. Children tend to be most comfortable with their own toys, but sometimes the photographer might introduce a new item that could invoke a reaction for the camera.
The beauty of children is they’re always doing something cute, so don’t think too much—just shoot! Though plans might be made for a posed photo session, the lens loves spontaneity, and a good photographer learns to anticipate and capture a short-lived response from his subject. Children have short attention spans, and they move quickly so the use of action photography tactics might be necessary, especially if shooting a sporting activity. Because there are so many options for posing children, often the best thing to do is shoot a full series that includes posed and non-posed shots. This will help to ensure a handful of possibilities for the final image(s).
No matter how you choose to document children, it is imperative that they be well rested, healthy, and recently fed. It is always better to reschedule and be flexible, than to force a child into a photographic situation because she will not produce a favorable, genuine emotion which is, after all, the ultimate goal.
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