by Mike Churchill © 2006, All Rights Reserved

There are few things that bring about a resounding "Awww!" quicker than a sweet picture of a child. We are drawn to pictures of babies and young children so much so that countless companies incorporate them into their advertising campaigns.

But just as often as you see heartwarming baby photos, you also see out-of-focus shots of starring kids with forced smiles on their faces. What's the trick? How can you take pictures of children that will make your friends think you have a photography degree? Here are three tips that will help.

Get Them to Interact

Children move. That's a given. So let them! Trying to force kids (especially toddlers) to sit still and smile is a lost effort. If you want truly precious pictures, find things your children want to interact with. A docile bunny, a baby carriage, some robot toys, a rocking horse and all sorts of other things can capture the attention of kids, if even for a few moments.

Clean your children's room(s) (or make them clean!), then do a photo shoot at home. Most of their favorite toys can probably be found in their toy box. If all your children play on the floor or if your spouse and your child play together, you can have the makings of some keepsake moments.

In California, photography school students at one particular institute often go on location to learn the different aspects of working outside a static studio environment. You can do the same.
Take your kids to the zoo, plan a day at the beach or have a picnic in the park. Whether it's animals, a beach ball or a swing set, your kids will likely have more natural expressions when they are at play. As your children explore and are filled with wonder and giggles, you start shooting. The results can be fabulous.

Make Them Laugh

A laughing child is one of life's greatest pleasures. Whether we capture the sound on tape, the memory in our minds or the delightful expression through photography, the degree of our joy is the same. In order to preserve those moments, however, you have to make your children laugh.

Read from a book of kids' jokes, do something silly to illicit laughter or bring other kids onto the scene. When the smiles and belly laughs begin, be ready to shoot. Also, be sure to have your camera ready when moments that are prone to laughter occur. Christmas, birthdays, getting new swing sets or bikes and more can offer prime opportunities for pictures filled with ear-to-ear grins.

Let Them Run the Show

When you try to pose kids, they usually begin to squirm and become uncooperative. So let them run the show. Ask where they want to have their pictures taken. In the tree house, outside by the pool, in grandma's lap? Wherever it is, give them a say and you'll likely get much more cooperation than if you force your kids to adhere to your agenda.

Childhood lasts such a short time. Once these times are gone, they will never return. Capture as much of your kids' youth as you can on film. By using these professional tips, you can create precious keepsakes that you and your family will cherish forever.

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