Family photography is one of those shoots that either goes brilliantly and you end up with some amazing images, OR it can go according to little Johnny, who would much rather be eating a huge wet pile of sand and running off into the water, trying desperately to make me - camera and all - follow!!! It forces a photographer to learn how to get to a child's level. We, as photographers, need to learn that cute little Johnny wont just sit there and flash his beautiful white grin and then strike pose after pose of fabulous shots. No... ha ha... he is more likely to look at you and smile, then when the camera comes out, stare and snarl his lips and pull a face that is definitely not framing material! More than that he has probably got the little booger up his nose waiting for the perfect time to make an appearance.
Im sure every photographer has en counted Johnny before. But the key here is... Get down to his level... Let him play freely, without constricting him into a perfect frame. I have found that when the photographer stands back and merely 'observes' Little Johnny with his family, you can get some amazing shots! Sure some will be posed just to stick with tradition, but if you as the photographer can relax, and just go along with the children, follow them, play with them, they will let you into their little world that is so full of imagination and creativity. Only then can you harness their little minds and capture it on film.
Above are some shots - some with kids, and some BIG kids - But you know what - sometimes the non- typical photo, really captures the family you are photographing.
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