How to get the child to pose?

Do you believe possessing a highly-advanced camera, a lot of patience, and a little bit of playfulness are just enough to excel in child photography? If yes, then it’s time to remind you of one of the major aspects of children's photography. For everyone who wants to be a professional child photographer, it is wise to acquire some basic knowledge on child photography poses. Photographing a child is of course a tricky business, but if you manage to learn the nuances of this profession, then nothing can stop you from surpassing in it. Here are some suggestions on child photography poses.

When you work with children, you would come across an array of reactions, say scared, hyper, inattentive, and the likes. Hence, getting the right poses for photographs is definitely a difficult task. But, you can make it effortless by using your subject's curiosity. If given a new toy, kids would be busy exploring it. This way, you are sure to get some outstanding images. Here, you need to ensure that the object you present is interesting to the kid.

If you want the kid to face the camera while flicking, make a small noise using a whistle or a bell. Before you proceed with this, set the camera in the appropriate position.

If the child is scared of your presence, it is better to leave the parents to handle him/her. Trying to touch them would lead to an adverse situation. If you manage to consult the parents about their kid's nature ahead of shooting, it would make your work smooth. During the consultation, familiarize yourself with the kid. This would make your subject feel comfortable of your presence, and you would get a fair idea of what props to be used for the photography session.

It is comparatively easier to work with older kids, as they are less anxious. You can make them pose as you desire. But freezing them naturally can yield rewarding results.

The best part in child photography is that you can anticipate some cute expressions. Don't give a second thought, just click it. You might have planned of a posed photo session, but capturing those non-posed shots wouldn't create any harm. As a result, you would be left with handful of possibilities, from which you can choose the best for documentation.

Apart from these, you need to ensure that the child is healthy. If not, rescheduling the session would be the wise decision. Acting in contrast would not fetch you favorable results.

The best props for children's portraits

Photographs are to be cherished forever. Parents love to freeze those cute expressions of their kids, which would let them relive those moments in future. As photos are meant to be archived, it becomes vital to make them look great. For this, not just subject of the photograph, attention has to be paid on the outfits and the props as well. Below discussed are some of the props that would add “WOW” factor to your child photographs.

Bubbles: No kid would dislike playing with bubbles. Chasing and popping up bubbles is all time favorite of all kids. You can get a bubble making machine from a local party supply store and let bubble float around your subject. This would help you to get some amazing expressions from your child.

Baskets: They are perfect for infants. You can also opt for a baby bassinet or a wagon for newborn portraits.

Kids Bathtub: Babies love to play in water, hence using a bathtub as a prop would add a cute effect to the photographs. For bath time themes, floating bubbles would definitely add a splash to the portraits.

Chairs: Contemporary props for child portraits, chairs are perfect for serious images. You can find wicker butterfly chairs as a standard prop for child photography in studios. They are economical and can be availed from thrift stores.

Bean Bag Chairs: These props give immense posing potentials for child portraits, be it an infant, a toddler, or a teenager. They are great for indoor as well as outdoor photo sessions and are affordable options too.

Garden Bench: If you like to add a classical touch to your child portraits, then no prop can be as good as a garden bench. You can find a huge collection of garden benches in wood, metal, and plaster in the garden supply stores. Fake ivy blends well with garden benches, and you can expect amazing end-results.

Large Alphabetic/Number Blocks: They are one of the traditional child portraiture props. You can find these in galore in the hobby supply stores. If you have ample free time, you can create a block using sturdy craft boxes. Kids sitting next to or on the block make an excellent portraiture.

Mirror: Mirror is an amazing prop for portraits. You don't have to break your head to find the best ways to place a mirror. Just set it on the floor and make your kids lie down on his/her stomach now let your camera flick.

Small Pedestals: Young or older kids, pedestals are among the finest props for portraits. Younger ones can sit on a pedestal (kept at an angle), whereas the grownups can lean on it.

Kid's Favorites: Kids always have a favorite; say a book or a stuffed animal. Allowing them to have their favorites during the photo session would yield astounding results.

Not just the above listed, pets, musical instruments, and vehicles can also work well as children's photography props. A bit of personal touch to the properties would add extra splash to your children's portraits.